The Special Crime branch of CBI today issued summons to senior CPI(M) leader and former MLA Rabin Deb for interrogation in connection with the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam.
This is the first time that a CPI(M) leader has been summoned by the CBI which was probing the case at the instance of the Supreme Court.
However, Deb has sought some time to appear before the CBI sleuths, according to sources.
The sources said that Deb's name surfaced during questioning of a bureaucrat-turned-businessman who used to own media houses in Kolkata.
CBI has also called Trinamool Congress MP Suvendu Adhikari in connection with the the Saradha scam, though Adhikari told PTI that he had not received any summons either by phone or in writing.
He said that he called up the agency as his name was appearing in the electronic media to find out whether he was asked to appear.
Adhikari said that the CBI was likely to call him tomorrow.
