TMC leader helped plan Sudipta escape: CBI
KOLKATA: Saradha boss Sudipta Sen's escape plan was chalked out in the presence of a prominent Trinamool Congress leader long before the day he hopped into an SUV and went on a cross-country run, say CBI sources. He also had to pay a handsome sum of money to a number of "influential men" who arranged for his stay in other states.
CBI investigators, who have picked up the trail, say Sen's escape was monitored by a most trusted group, who directly took orders from him, right from Ranchi to Kashmir. Enforcement Directorate has already investigated the escape.
CBI investigators, who have picked up the trail, say Sen's escape was monitored by a most trusted group, who directly took orders from him, right from Ranchi to Kashmir. Enforcement Directorate has already investigated the escape.
Earlier, state police had said that Sudipta travelled to Ranchi but his real destination was Kashmir where aide Arvind Chauhan was preparing the base for running another Saradha-like Ponzi scam. But CBI sleuths believe Sudipta was told to keep changing base "till alternate arrangements" could be made by his escape managers. Accordingly, Sudipta and Saradha director Debjani went by road to Dehradun (some 1,300km) and then to Haridwar where he passed on instructions to his accountants. One of his specific instructions was to hand over a number of cheques to this Trinamool leader, say CBI sources.
Sudipta and Debjani even offered puja at Haridwar together on Poila Boisakh. The two then went off to the Jim Corbett National Park where they were apparently asked
to wait. However, a "leak" from within forced Sudipta to flee to Haldwani in Uttarakhand (about 140km from Jim Corbett) to throw Bengal police off track. The two finally ended up in Kashmir, over 1,100km away.
to wait. However, a "leak" from within forced Sudipta to flee to Haldwani in Uttarakhand (about 140km from Jim Corbett) to throw Bengal police off track. The two finally ended up in Kashmir, over 1,100km away.
Central agencies are piecing together Sen's activities in the days even before his escape as was earlier reported by TOI. "He knew that all his accounts would be sealed once he left the city so he decided to distribute a large amount of money in three group companies —Saradha Realty, Saradha Garden Resorts and Saradha Print and Publication," said an investigator. According to sources, a few days before Sudipta escaped, crores were sent to this Trinamool leader. Sudipta had been sending money to the MP regularly, but the payouts suddenly increased after March 2013.
Sources say a retired police officer went to meet Sudipta at the Saradha Midland Park HQ just prior to his escape and returned with a cheque. Investigators believe this was the last large-amount payment in cheque the Saradha boss made before he fled.
CBI sources said that they are sharing information with ED on certain deals carried out by Sudipta on a need-to-know basis. ED officials say they are in the process of completing their probe. "The ED investigation is in its final stages and we have been able to trace a substantial part of the proceeds of the crime," a senior ED officer said, adding that ED would have to wait till the completion of CBI's probe. "Once that is over, ED will be able to file a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against the accused", an official said. Sources, however, said the ED probe might take a new turn with the inclusion of fresh investigators.
CBI sources said that they are sharing information with ED on certain deals carried out by Sudipta on a need-to-know basis. ED officials say they are in the process of completing their probe. "The ED investigation is in its final stages and we have been able to trace a substantial part of the proceeds of the crime," a senior ED officer said, adding that ED would have to wait till the completion of CBI's probe. "Once that is over, ED will be able to file a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against the accused", an official said. Sources, however, said the ED probe might take a new turn with the inclusion of fresh investigators.
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