Calcutta HC Orders West Bengal to Report on Saradha Group Cases
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Synopsis
On Feb 27, 2023, the Calcutta High Court directed the West Bengal government to provide a detailed report on pending cases against Sudipta Sen, founder of the Saradha Group. This follows his claims regarding political interference in the financial misappropriation of his firm.
Key Takeaways
- Calcutta High Court demands report from West Bengal government.
- Sudipta Sen, Saradha Group founder, under scrutiny.
- Allegations point to political leaders’ involvement.
- Legal representation issues raised by Sen.
- Chit fund scams have impacted many states.
Kolkata, Feb 27 (NationPress) The Calcutta High Court on Thursday instructed the West Bengal government to provide a comprehensive report regarding the unresolved cases against Sudipta Sen, who is the Founder and Chairman of the infamous chit fund organization Saradha Group.
A division bench comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Gaurang Kanth mandated the state government to present the report within four weeks.
Sen, arrested in 2013, had previously sent a letter to the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Kolkata in 2020, detailing how the assets of his firm were misappropriated by certain political figures and some of his employees. Following this, a lower court also ordered an investigation based on Sen’s claims.
In 2024, Sen filed a prisoner's petition asserting that he lacked legal representation in the ongoing cases against him.
This matter was then referred to the division bench, which instructed the state Correctional Services department to secure legal counsel for Sen. Now, the same bench has requested a report from the state government concerning the unresolved cases against him.
In 2012, West Bengal was shaken by the exposure of chit-fund scams operating within the state. The most notable cases involved Saradha Group and Rose Valley Group, due to the connections with several influential political figures, primarily from the ruling Trinamool Congress.
These cases primarily revolve around the illegal solicitation of public deposits through various multi-level marketing schemes, promising exorbitant returns, only to disappear when it came time to pay.
Most of these chit fund organizations operated from West Bengal, collecting funds through a vast network of agents in remote areas across Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab, and Haryana.
The operators maintained offices and agents in various key cities within these states.
