During a hearing of the CBI petition for cancellation of Mitra's bail, CBI lawyer K Raghava Charyulu claimed before a division bench of Justice Nishita Mhatre and Justice Tapas Mukherjee that the minister's influence was all pervasive and as such he could tamper evidence as the investigators were trying to find the Saradha money trail.
Appealing before the bench to cancel his bail granted by an Alipore court on October 31, the CBI counsel said that Mitra was discharging functions as a cabinet minister even on this date.
He further said that as the public prosecutor he had not received any notice from the court regarding bail petition.
Mitra's counsel S K Kapur countered the argument, stating that there was no such practice of giving notice.
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On allegations of Mitra influencing the investigation process, he stated that the minister had sent his resignation to the chief minister before his arrest, but it was yet to be accepted.
The CBI counsel argued that when Mitra was admitted at the state-run SSKM Hospital, he was kept in a "presidential suite room" reserved for VVIPS like the President and Governor where he was administered nasal sprays and antacid tablets for his ailments.
The hearing of the case will continue tomorrow.
Till disposal of the CBI plea for cancellation of his bail, Mitra is under house confinement under police surveillance as per a direction of the Calcutta High Court.