Bengal minister Madan Mitra arrested in Saradha scam

Kolkata: The CBI Friday arrested West Bengal Transport Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Madan Mitra in connection with the multi-crore rupee Saradha chit fund scam.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also arrested Naresh Balodia, the legal advisor of Saradha chief and scam kingpin Sudipta Sen.

"Mitra was arrested on prima facie evidence of criminal conspiracy, cheating and misappropriation as well as deriving undue financial benefits from the Saradha group," CBI official Kanchan Prasad told IANS.

"CBI also arrested Naresh Balodia on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and diversion of funds in the same case," she added.

Mitra, also the sports minister, was arrested following many hours of grilling by CBI sleuths at the agency office here.

He is the fourth Trinamool leader after Rajya Sabha members Kunal Ghosh and Srinjoy Bose and party functionary Rajat Majumdar, to be arrested in the scam.