Kolkata: A court in West Bengal Monday allowed the CBI plea for adding a stringent section of the law dealing with criminal breach of trust by a public servant or a banker, merchant or agent and carrying a maximum sentence of a life term into a case of the multi-crore Saradha scam.
While the Central Bureau of Investigation in its charge sheet had mentioned section 409 of the Indian Penal Code, the trial court hearing the Saradha Realty case had erroneously not taken cognisance under the section.
There were noisy scenes and pandemonium after Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Alipore) Haradhan Mukherjee admitted there was an “error” on the part of the court and sought to rectify it.
A battery of lawyers defending state Transport Minister Madan Mitra – arrested in the scam- opposed the move citing the court had no power to do so. They were also infuriated over the court hearing the matter despite the Bar Association deciding to cease work for the day following the death of a senior lawyer.
The CBI had made the prayer of congisance under section 409 after then Trinamool Rajya Sabha member Srinjoy Bose Feb 4 got bail after remaining behind bars for 75 days. It contended that if the section is not included in the cognizance order, then Mitra – in custody till date – might be also granted bail like Bose.
Mitra has already applied for bail before a higher court which is expected to come up for hearing Feb 11. (IANS)
