ED may quiz top cop

In case the commissioner is not summoned considering his high office, an ED team may examine him at his residence.

With several senior politicians, including ministers of the Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet and her MPs, appearing before the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Saradha scam, now it seems to be the turn of IPS officer and Kolkata Police Commissioner Surajit Kar Purakayastha to face the drill.

The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) — in its report submitted to the Centre in November — had stated that Purakayastha allegedly played a “role in abetment in commission of offence”. Purakayastha’s name finds mention along with six businessmen and politicians. The SFIO had recommended investigation into the alleged involvement of these seven persons in the Saradha scam.

The six others are Rajat Majumdar, Debabrata Sarkar, Kunal Jhunjhunwala, Madan Mitra, Ramesh Gandhi and Jinesh Vanzara. Among them, CBI had already arrested former IPS officer-turned Trinamool leader Rajat Majumdar, state Transport and Sports Minister Madan Mitra and East Bengal Club official Debabrata Sarkar. While the ED has investigated Ramesh Gandhi and Kunal Jhunjhunwala, Jhunjhunwala’s accounts have been frozen.

Sources said the investigators have collected several photos and videos of Purakayastha attending programmes of the Saradha group. He has reportedly been seen asking people to deposit money with the company. The investigators confirmed that the clips were shot around 2012-13, before the company went bust in April, 2013.

In case the commissioner is not summoned considering his high office, an ED team may examine him at his residence or office, said a source.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram