CBI says it intimated West Bengal speaker of Madan Mitra's arrest

KOLKATA: CBI today said it had intimated West Bengal Assembly Speaker's office soon after the arrest of Transport Minister Madan Mitra on Friday.

"We had sent an email and a fax to the Speaker's office after his (Mitra's) arrest yesterday," CBI investigating officer F B Karna said.

Trimamool Congress leader and state Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee had alleged no intimation was sent by CBI to the Speaker's office after Mitra's arrest and had sought to move a privilege motion.

Speaker Biman Banerjee, when contacted, said no communication from CBI had reached his office during office hours.

"Working hour at my office is till 5 pm but officers stay till 6.30 pm or so. They later told me that they had received no communication from CBI till the time they were in the office," he said.

"I can't say whether the communication landed afterwards or not as the office is closed today. I will know when the office opens on Monday," he added.

Mitra was arrested in connection with the multi-crore rupees Saradha ponzi scheme scam yesterday evening.