Saradha scam: ED issues fresh summons to MP Arpita Ghosh, two aides of Matang Sinh

Kolkata: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued fresh summons to Trinamool Congress MP Arpita Ghosh and two aides of former Union minister Matang Sinh in connection with its money laundering probe in the Saradha chitfund case. Officials said while Balurghat MP Ghosh has been summoned to appear on February 13, Sinh’s aides Khyati Sadana and Rupendranath Singh have too been called in the next week. [caption id=“attachment_2084235” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. PTI[/caption] “The statements of all the accused will be recorded next week under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). While Sadana is Sinh’s aide and first assistant, Singh is a director in a firm owned by the Congress leader,” a source said. This is the second time that Ghosh has been summoned in the case by the central probe agency. She has been associated with the Saradha media arm ‘Ekhon Samay’ and herself filed a case against the defunct group owned by Sudipto Sen for alleged mismanagement of payment of salaries. Sources said the aides of Sinh, who was recently arrested by CBI in this case, will be questioned about the transactions made by the former Minister of State for Home and their role in his businesses. Sinh allegedly received a payment of Rs 28 crore from the defunct group in return of starting a new business venture. The ED had already questioned Sinh last year and during his recording of statement he had told the agency that he has committed to return the said amount for the benefit of the cheated depositors. The agency has filed a criminal case in this scam and has attached assets worth Rs 500 crore till now in this probe. Meanwhile, the agency late evening, froze three prime properties of Sinh in Delhi and issued orders for “restriction on transfer” of these assets under PMLA laws. Sources said the properties, built as flats, are located in prime locations in Delhi and are estimated to be worth about Rs 30 crore. The agency has earlier issued similar orders against the former Union minister for his immovable properties in Assam and West Bengal. PTI