KOLKATA, Jan 12 (IANS): The CBI on Monday summoned Trinamool Congress general secretary and former Railway Minister Mukul Roy for questioning in connection with the multi-crore-rupee Saradha chit fund scam.
The Opposition termed the development a major "setback" for the Trinamool, while West Bengal's ruling party accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government of using the Central Bureau of Investigation as a "political tool".
Confirming that he has been called for questioning, Roy - presently in Delhi - said he would appear before the CBI once he returns to Kolkata.
"Question doesn't arise about any summons but I have been informed by the CBI. I am here (in Delhi) for a day or two, and once I go back to Kolkata, I will definitely meet the CBI people," Roy, a Rajya Sabha member, told reporters in Delhi.
"I have never been involved in any illegal or immoral activity. They (CBI) have called me but I am here. Once I return to Kolkata, I will meet them," he added.
Claiming that the CBI's summons to Roy was yet to be received, Trinamool spokesperson and Rajya Sabha chief whip Derek O'Brien wondered if the investigating agency was being run by BJP president Amit Shah.
"The nasty ploy of using the CBI as a political tool by the BJP continues. They could not fight us politically in Bengal in the Lok Sabha elections. So now, these dirty tactics months before the corporation elections. We will fight them - strongly, politically," O'Brien said in a statement.
"This is blatant vindictiveness. The so-called summons has not yet reached and the BJP honchos are already giving bytes. Is the CBI being run by (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi's office or by Amit Shah at the BJP headquarters?" asked O'Brien.
"This is a deliberate bid to try and finish all regional parties and they are doing this against many states. The Trinamool functioned almost as the main Opposition party in Parliament. By doing this, the BJP hopes to silence us. This devious strategy will not succeed, because we do not succumb. We fight politically," he added.
Four Trinamool leaders - including Rajya Sabha members Kunal Ghosh and Srinjoy Bose, and state Transport Minister Madan Mitra - have been arrested in connection with the scam.
