Saradha scam: CBI arrests Manoranjana, Kolkata businessman

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday arrested Manoranjana Sinh, estranged wife of former union minister and Congress leader Matang Sinh in connection with the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam.
Manoranjana allegedly misused crores of rupees collected by Saradha group Chairman Sudipta Sen after threatening him. CBI sources said she couldn’t explain the circumstances of obtaining funds from Saradha group and even tried to mislead the agency during investigation.Sen had claimed in his letter to CBI in 2013 that he had given Rs 25 crore to Manoranjana Sinh which the former journalist never returned. CBI sources said she has been accused of misappropriation of funds, cheating and criminal conspiracy.
Earlier, on January 31 this year, Matang Sinh was arrested by CBI after high drama in Kolkata, where he reportedly threatened sleuths with ‘dire consequences’ if he was put behind bars. Known for his influence in the power circles in Delhi during Congress regime, Matang Sinh reportedly influenced transfer and postings. In fact, former union home secretary Anil Goswami quit after reports said he had called a CBI officer asking him not to arrest Sinh. Sinh is presently in jail.
Along with Manoranjana Sinh, CBI has arrested Kolkata-based entrepreneur Santanu Ghosh, co-founder of the now-defunct Xenitis Group. Ghosh was arrested by Enforcement Directorate last year for money laundering. He has been on bail since August 26, 2014. Alleged mastermind of the scam, Shantanu Sen has claimed that Ghosh had pressured him to purchase his automobile company which had “huge liabilities”.
Sudipta Sen, founder Chairman of Saradha group, had misappropriated Rs 2500 crore collected from investors. Senior Trinamool Congress leaders Srinjoy Bose, Madan Mitra and Kunal Ghosh were arrested in connection with the scam earlier.
CBI spokesperson Devpreet Singh said on Wednesday that both the arrested persons have also been interrogated earlier but they failed to explain the facts and also concealed vital information. “Their alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy with then CMD of the Group (Saradha) for obtaining personal gains running into crores of rupees by way of misappropriation of funds collected from innumerable poor investors came to light during the investigation,” she said.
Sen, in his tell-all letter, had given a detailed account of giving money to Manoranjana Sinh and her husband Matang Sinh. He had said that these “two persons damaged him in huge manner”.