Probe reveals I-T officer helped wife of scamster

CBI finds more evidence in Rose Valley scam

 In yet another twist to the multi-crore Rose Valley chit fund scam, the CBI has come across some incriminating evidence that a senior income tax (I-T) officer was helping Subhra, wife of the tainted group’s owner, Gautam Kundu.

The central agency has started a probe into the matter and  a handful of I-T officers are under the scanner.

According to sources in the central agency, which has been probing the involvement of influential persons in both Rose Valley and Saradha scams under orders from the Supreme Court, the said I-T officer helped Subhra to invest her money in benami property and to park her money illegally in several tax havens.

The CBI also has evidence suggesting that the senior-ranking I-T officer met Subhra during a raid on Rose Valley companies after Gautam’s arrest in 2015.

Helped file returns

Sources also said that the senior officer, who received regular payments from Gautam, helped him manage both his and Rose Valley’s income tax files since 2011 till his arrest. The officer later provided similar services to Subhra and reportedly even accompanied her to Andamans last year, to help work out a land deal.

Provided with proxies

“He even helped Subhra invest money in several projects under various aliases and could have also provided her with proxies who would stand in for her as legitimate investors,” a senior official said.

Sources further said that even the Kolkata police and the Enforcement Directorate, which is probing the money trail in the two chit fund scams, have gathered evidence to suggest that the I-T officer had helped Subhra park money from Rose Valley abroad after Gautam’s arrest.

Earlier in the probe, CCTV footage from a hotel in Delhi had revealed that Subhra had spent time with ED Superintendent Manoj Kumar, who was heading the probe into the Rose Valley case.

Kumar has since been suspended and departmental proceedings have been initiated against him.