The Tripura Pradesh Congress has demanded a CBI probe into Chief Minister Manik Sarkar's alleged proximity with various chit fund companies such as Saradha and Rose Valley.
Congress MLA and opposition leader in the Tripura Assembly, Sudip Roy Barman, said if the CBI can interrogate West Bengal Transport minister Madan Mitra in the Saradha chit fund scam, Sarkar must also be questioned in a similar manner.
"If Madan Mitra (West Bengal Transport minister) for keeping close proximity with Sarada group can be interrogated by the CBI and then arrested, and that also keeping proximity with one chit fund Sarada then why the state's Chief Minister Manik Sarkar who had been close with so many chit funds right from Rose Valley will not be interrogated?" asked Barman
"Why he will not be kept in the same place (jail) where Madan Mitra is at present staying? He is equally an offender. The offence for which Madan Mitra is in the jail, the Chief Minister of this state is equally an offender," he added.
Barman urged the government to work out a process to ensure that the duped investors get back their money.
"When in the assembly we demanded that they (state government) should have a role in working out a process by which the investors (those duped in various ponzi schemes) can get back their money . You have encouraged them and assured to invest money in chit fund and now tell that the government cannot take their responsibility," he said.
He further alleged that if a proper investigation is held, several ministers and CPI (M) leaders will find themselves behind the bars.
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The CPI-M, however, has rubbished the allegations and said it has no objection to a CBI probe.
"These are old issues and they have mainly targeted the Chief Minister and another minister so that the CBI interrogates them. They have right every right to demand and we have no objection to that. But the CBI is already investigating and the state government had declared the CBI investigation," said CPI-M state secretary, Bijon Dhar.