THE Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested transport minister  of  West Bengal and TMC leader Madan Mitra for “cheating and misappropriation of funds” in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam on December 12, 2014. He is the first minister of West Bengal since independence who has been arrested by the central agency for such huge corruption.

Mamata Banerjee's government and Saradha chit fund company have become synonymous. Kunal Ghosh, TMC MP from Rajya Sabha, who has also been detained in Saradha case has clearly stated publicly that none other than Mamata Banerjee herself is the principal beneficiary of Saradha fiasco. Another TMC Rajya Sabha MP Srinjay Bose has also been arrested by the CBI in this scam. Rajat Majumdar, another TMC leader, has also been detained by the central probing agency in this scam. The other names which are coming out, associated with the case all belong to the TMC fold. It has also come to the fore that the TMC fought the 2011 assembly election with the money given by the ponzi fund company. The growth of Saradha company took a sky-rocketing hike after the TMC took over the helm of affairs of West Bengal.

One should also not forget how desperately Mamata Banerjee's government tried to stop the CBI probe into this multi-crore scam where money of the common people has been looted. This government constituted a Special Investigating Team in the connection with the scam but they only tried to destroy the evidences so that the case loses its merit. However, the Supreme Court ordered the CBI probe into Saradha scam to find out the larger conspiracy and the involvement of the influential people in the loot.

However Mamata Banerjee cried the conspiracy theory after the detention of her cabinet member. She stood by her transport minister and used several unconstitutional utterances; one may think, due to sheer fear. The TMC activists are blocking roads, obstructing trains to mark their protest against the detention of Madan Mitra. A few days back, after the arrest of Srinjay Bose, the TMC organised a unique rally led by none other than the CM shouting slogans that we all are thieves. It is undoubtedly unfortunate for the state of Bengal that the government is pursuing consistently for the impostors but never thought of the sufferers who have been deceived.

The Left Front has consistently stood by the sufferers and demanded justice for them. The Left Front MLAs were manhandled by the TMC MLAs inside the assembly house when they demanded a discussion on Saradha fiasco. They supported each and every movement by the chit fund victims. After Madan Mitra’s arrest, CPI(M) has demanded that the CBI must immediately interrogate chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

The leader of opposition, Dr Surjya Kanta Mishra, said in a press conference that the CBI should immediately interrogate the chief minister. He further demanded that the CBI must probe who all were provided compensation by the Justice Shyamal Sen Commission of Inquiry and seize all the documents of the Commission.

Biman Basu, Left Front chairman, also has asked the chief minister to keep herself prepared for CBI interrogation.  He demanded further that Madan Mitra be sacked from the state cabinet with immediate effect.

the Left Front has given a call for state wide protest on December 13 with six demands: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has to be immediately interrogated in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam; all persons involved in the larger conspiracy have to be arrested; more than 200 chit funds excluding Saradha are under operation for cheating people, action has to be initiated against them; investors have to be repaid money after confiscation and selling of property of the impostors; report of Justice Shyamal Sen Commission has to be published and all information of that report has to be seized and taken under the CBI probe; the chief minister through her speeches is declaring war against the Supreme Court, legal action against her has to be initiated. The rally of Kolkata witnessed participation of streams of people. They shouted spirited slogans and at the end of the rally set fire to the effigy of the chief minister. Dr Surjya Kanta Mishra addressed the meeting after the rally.