CBI probes IRCTC-Saradha Group contract during Mamata Banerjee's tenure as Railway Minister

NEW DELHI: A fresh political controversy broke out after allegations surfaced that Indian Railways-owned IRCTC had entered into a contract with Saradha Group-run Saradha Tours and Travels for operating tourist services to different destinations.

Former minister of state for Railways Adhir Chowdhury demanded that the CBI, which is probing the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam on a Supreme Court directive, probe whether Saradha was favoured unduly. The contract happened during Mamata Banerjee's tenure as Railway Minister.

"Whether set guidelines had been flouted in giving Saradha the contract should be investigated and whether IRCTC had favoured it should be found out," Chowdhury, who is at present a Congress MP and West Bengal Pradesh Congress president, said.

On his part, Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha said, "Railways will not institute a separate probe into the alleged tie-up between IRCTC and Saradha Group-owned travel company as the CBI was investigating into the matter in its totality."

"There is no need for a separate investigation by the Railways. The CBI is investigating the Saradha Group issue. Law will take its own course irrespective of whosoever is found guilty," Sinha told reporters.

TMC has denied any charges on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying that it is open to any kind of probe.

Last week, questioning the success rate of CBI in solving cases, Mamata Banerjee had described investigation by the agency into Saradha Chit Fund scam as a ploy to save the real culprits and use it to defame the state government.

"You can check the records, the success rate of CBI is very poor. CBI has been used by the party that is at the Centre to corner its political opponents by using malicious and pressure tactics," Banerjee had said.

Banerjee's statement came in the backdrop of CBI and the Enforcement Directorate closing in on the Saradha money trail and raids and interrogations of various influential persons making headlines everyday.