Guwahati: Once the most powerful minister in Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government in Assam and an incumbent Congress legislator, Dr Himanta Bishwa Sarma was interrogated by the CBI officials in Kolkata for hours in connection with multi-thousands crore Saradha chit fund scam.
Dr Sarma who was in the headlines few months back for quitting Tarun Gogoi ministry as the health and education minister after raising the banner of revolt against ‘inefficient’ chief minister, arrived at the CBI’s Kolkata office before 10 A.M. and remain inside for several hours.
The CBI had earlier raided Dr Sarma residence in Guwahati and offices of the satellite TV channel owned by his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.Dr Sarma happens to be the second Congress leader from Assam to be quizzed by the CBI in connection with Saradha scam.
On Monday a senior Congress MLA and former minister Anjan Dutta was interrogated by the CBI in is Kolkata office in connection with the chit fund scam. Dutta claimed that Saradha group used to print their daily newspaper published from Guwahati in his printing press and so he had business dealings with the group.
The central investigating agency in the first charge sheet filed in connection with the case named a popular singer from Assam Sadananda Gogoi who is known to be close to Dr Sarma. It is alleged that the
singer was the link between the Saradha group mana-gement and Dr Sarma who faces allegation of taking protection money from Saradha Group in lieu of facilitating a smooth business operation for the group in Assam.
Dr Sarma had ,however, stated that the CBI did not find anything objectionable during the raid in his residence and in the office of the TV channel owned by his wife.
CBI had also raided the residence Sadananda Gogoi in Guwahati before he was taken into custody by the
agency.
A former director general of police in Assam, Shankar Barua had committed suicide following the CBI
raid in his residence and scrutiny of his bank account in connection with Saradha chit fund scam.