Saradha scam: ED quizzes painter

The Enforcement Directorate, investigating the money trail in the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam, interrogated prominent painter Suvaprasanna for the second time regarding his connection to the scam.

The central agency wanted to know details of a deal he had made regarding the sale of a television channel with the group’s now-jailed chairman, Sudipto Sen.

The ED has also called leading city industrialist Harshvardhan Neotia for interrogation. It earlier questioned Suvaprasanna in October last year. The painter was also questioned by the CBI, which is probing the involvement of influential persons in the scam under orders from the Supreme Court. Suvaprasanna could not explain a gap of Rs 3 crore in his accounts books during several sessions of grilling on Monday, sources said.

Known for his rapport with the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, Suvaprasanna was questioned on the sale of his shares in Akhon Samay, a TV channel he was to set up under the banner of Saradha. The ED, which earlier froze two of his bank accounts, summoned him again as officials noticed some inconsistencies in his statements, sources said.

The ED earlier questioned him twice before regarding the sale of Devkripa Vyapar Pvt. Ltd, the TV channel’s holding company. Sources pointed out that despite the channel never going on air, Suvaprasanna sold it to Sen at an inflated price in 2011.

The painter, who provided some documents to CBI regarding the deal, has repeatedly denied all charges. “I have nothing to hide. I’ve been asked to submit documents and I’ll do so,” he told reporters in October.