THE Enforcement Directorate Friday arrested a close associate of Saradha Group chairman Sudipta Sen in connection with the ponzi scam. Sources said Prashanta Nashkar (40) was arrested for hiding information and not cooperating with investigators. “Nashkar has been working as an agent of Saradha schemes in Bishnupur area for long. He was also active as a political muscleman and had close connections with a TMC leader,” an ED source said. The ED has found that Nashkar allegedly possessed a huge number of movable and immovable assets in Bishnupur and extorted money from depositors after promising them huge returns. Nashkar will be produced in a court Saturday for extension of custody. Sources said Nashkar had got several “benami” properties of TMC minister Madan Mitra transferred in his name after the latter’s arrest. ED has unearthed a number of properties under his “illegal” possession and has recovered documents showing Nashkar withdrew around Rs 12 crore from Saradha bank accounts. ENS
