GUWAHATI, Nov 22 � The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned two former Ministers, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Anjan Dutta, both legislators of the ruling Congress, in connection with investigation into the Saradha Group financial scam.
Highly placed official sources today laid to rest all speculation about the summoning of the two former ministers and confirmed that both Sarma and Dutta have been asked to appear before the investigating officers in the office of the Central investigating agency in Kolkata.
Sources told The Assam Tribune that the CBI did not give any fixed date and time to the former ministers to appear before the investigating officers. Both of them have been asked to appear before the investigating officers any day between November 24 and 26 for questioning in connection with the investigation into the Saradha Group scam, sources added. It is still not known as to when the former ministers would appear before the CBI. However, it is learnt that both have consulted their legal advisers in this connection.
The CBI has already raided the residences and offices of Sarma and Dutta, while the office of a television company owned by Sarma�s wife was also raided.
Sources said that the investigation into the case in Assam, which has inter-State dimensions, was slowed down a bit after former Director General of Police Sankar Baruah committed suicide after his residence was raided by the CBI. Moreover, the investigators of the bureau were busy with the investigations in West Bengal and Odisha, where several political leaders and others were arrested. However, the investigation into the Assam part of the case has gathered momentum as the bureau has questioned several persons, including the president of the All Assam Students� Union, Sankar Prasad Roy and others who had business links with Saradha Group chief Sudipto Sen.
Sources said that the allegation against Himanta Biswa Sarma was that he had taken �protection money� from the Saradha Group chief. It is also alleged that singer Sadananda Gogoi, who was arrested by the CBI in connection with the case, had introduced Sen to Sarma.
On the other hand, Anjan Dutta had entered into a business agreement with the Saradha Group chief. The Saradha Group reportedly wanted to buy a printing press owned by Dutta, but the deal did not materialise.
