THOUSANDS of people are coming out on the streets demanding punishment for all those involved in Saradha scam and compensation for the depositors by selling the properties of the fraudsters. CBI investigation into the largest financial scam in the history of the state has already exposed the nexus between Saradha owners and Trinamool Congress leaders and ministers. The role of the chief minister herself has come into question. Whether the CBI investigation will progress logically or not, whether extraneous political pressure will derail the process or not, are open questions. But the anger and wrath of the people is being expressed almost daily through protest demonstrations. On September 11, thousands of depositors, small agents of chit funds gathered in a huge procession in Kolkata. Cheated depositors of various other companies, apart from Saradha joined in the rally. The rally, called by Chit Fund Sufferer’s United Forum, was decorated with spontaneous posters and festoons demanding arrest of the fraudsters. The procession culminated in a public meeting where speakers lambasted the state government for protecting these chit funds. CPI(M) leaders Shyamal Chakraborty, Sujan Chakraborty and leaders of various other political parties affirmed their solidarity with the movement. Left women’s organisations held a militant protest at Salt Lake where the CBI office is situated. They blocked road and had a scuffle with police. On September 15, the CITU, AIKS, SFI, DYFI, AIDWA organised another huge rally in Kolkata. The rally called for justice to chit fund victims and interrogation of all the accused. In a public meeting after the procession, the mass organisation leaders demanded answers to crucial questions from the chief minister. They challenged the chief minister to come clean on her association with Saradha owner Sudipta Sen, and her midnight meeting with the scamster. On September 22, the Left Front has called a protest rally. Briefing media persons, Left Front chairman Biman Basu strongly demanded that all those involved should be brought to book.