The West Bengal government was aware of the mushrooming of chit funds in 2011, according to documentary evidence.
Around 2011, Trinamool Congress MP Somen Mitra and Congress MP from Malda Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, now minister of state for health, had separately written to the Centre that this proliferation could be a danger. Saradha Group was mentioned in at least one letter. The Centre had sounded out finance and home ministries as well as the regulators. Bengal home secretary was requested to "look into the matter" and report. But no response seemingly came from the state government.
