Saradha case: ED quizzes painter Suvaprasanna, industrialist Harsh Neotia

Taking forward the ongoing Saradha probe, ED summoned painter Suvaprasanna Bhattacharya and industrialist Harsh Neotia for questioning in their alleged involvement in the ponzi scam that rocked the nation last year.

According to reports received, Suvaprasanna, considered close to ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, allegedly sold a TV channel he owned to Saradha Group chief Sudipta Sen, now in jail custody.

According to sources, the painter was summoned at CGO Complex situated at Salt Lake in Kolkata, which houses ED office, to seek information about Devkripa Vyapar Pvt Ltd, the holding company of Akhon Samay, a news channel which he sold to Saradha chief Sudipta Sen.

Allegations are that despite the channel never going on air, Bhattacharya is alleged to have sold it to Sen at an inflated price in 2011.

Suvaprasanna, who also involved in setting up the sprawling Arts Acre Foundation campus at Rajarhat, arrived at the ED office at 2 P.M. where officers is learnt to have asked the painter to furnish details of his company’s account for the last three years.

"I have been summoned by the ED for some information they want and as a citizen of this country it is my duty to furnish that," Bhattacharya is quoted by media as saying while entering the ED office here.

It has also been learnt that Harsh Neotia is one of the major share holders of Devkripa Vyapar Pvt Ltd. So, the industrialist was also interrogated by the sleuths on Monday.

Neotia arrived at ED office at 3 P.M.

The ED had on Friday questioned his wife Shipra Bhattacharya who was one of the directors in Devkripa.

Earlier, Suvaprasanna, who is the chairman of the West Bengal Heritage Commission, a statutory body under the state government, had Oct 8 furnished documents about the deal to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is also probing the ponzi scam along with ED.

It is noteworthy to mention, that this is the second time that painter Suvaprasanna was summoned by ED.

In quest of search for bigger conspiracy, as been directed by the Supreme Court, the CBI on Monday quizzed Sanjay Bhattacharya, son of Congress leader Badal Bhattacharya.

Sanjay arrived at the CGO complex in afternoon.

It has been learnt, Sanjay was associated with Saradha Construction. CBI has asked him to furnish transaction details of that company.

Apart from that, CBI, as reported by media also asked him to furnish detailed list of “high-profile” visitors who used to throng Saradha’s Midland Park office.

Media reported that CBI has summoned Suvaprasanna on Tuesday to interrogate on the basis of documents provided by him to the central investigating agency regarding his company.

The painter has of course denied the reports. 

Not only that, media reported that CBI has supposedly sent notices to five newspapers, out of which three are Bengali and rest are English dailies.

The agency has allegedly asked the dailies to furnish the details of advertisement deals with Sudipta Sen-owned Saradha.