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Following first information reports against Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Kunal Ghosh, who headed the media ventures of the Saradha group, the journalist-turned MP has said he would resign if the charges against him were proved true.
In a five-page letter to West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee (uploaded on the party's website late late night), Ghosh said, "If you so wish, I am ready to resign from the Rajya Sabha any time. Your directive is the last word for me."
Ghosh is accused of being party to the Saradha group's financial irregularities. Yesterday, employees of Channel 10 (which Ghosh headed) lodged a first information report against Ghosh for the non-payment of salaries since January. They also ransacked the Channel 10 office.
Early this morning, employees of Bengali news daily Sakalbela (a Saradha group venture), filed a complaint against Ghosh for non-payment of salaries since January.
Ghosh has maintained he looked after the editorial content of the channel alone, adding he had nothing to do with the financial aspects of the media ventures.
The move to make the letter offering resignation public is seen as a clear move by the Trinamool Congress to distance itself from the chit fund scam. The party had faced embarrassment when Saradha group chief Sudipta Sen's letter to the Central Board of Investigation named two party MPs - Ghosh and Srinjoy Bose, who owned Bengali news daily Sangbad Pratidin.
At a Trinamool Congress parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi early this week, two MPs - Sisir Adhikari and Sougata Roy - had asked Ghosh to tender his resignation.
The charges filed against Ghosh ranged from criminal breach of trust to cheating. If proven, the charges could result in up to seven years in jail.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have slammed a proposed Bill that aims to clamp down on chit fund companies. The state government is likely to include a retrospective clause in the Bill to ensure the Saradha group comes under its ambit. However, opposition parties, as well as experts, believe the clause could be challenged, and this would help Saradha group chief Sudipta Sen.
