AGARTALA, July 2 - The CBI quizzed Tripura�s ruling CPI(M) leader Gautam Das last month on the Rose Valley chit fund scam involving duping of investors.
In a statement issued last evening, Das, while denying media reports that he was interrogated twice last month by the CBI, said he was quizzed only once.
Das, a Central committee member of the party, said the questioning was held on June 16 in the office of party mouthpiece �Daily Desherkatha�.
In his statement, Das said, �an inspector of CBI�s Kolkata office contacted me over phone on June 15 last and said he was keen to speak to me about the Rose Valley group court case at any convenient place.
�I told him to come to Daily Desherkatha office on June 16. The officer got my e-mail address and sent me a notice under 160 CrPC as witness.�
Das said an Additional SP and an inspector met him in the office and asked him some questions in the presence of an advocate.
�They spoke to me for about one hour and then issued me a written certificate that I have fully cooperated with them. I want to clearly state that I have no connection with the Rose Valley or any chit fund group,� he said.
Das said he did not tell anyone about the matter and the report in the newspaper was defamatory and �aimed at maligning me and my party.�
CBI officials had interrogated Tripura�s Social Welfare Minister Bijita Nath in connection with the Rose Valley chit fund scam here on June 29 last. � PTI
