Saradha scam: CBI questions former Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

GUWAHATI/KOLKATA: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday examined former minister and leader of the dissident Congress camp in Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, for eight hours in connection with multi-crore Saradha scam. CBI had raided his house and a news channel owned by his wife in Guwahati in August. He is accused of receiving Rs 20 lakh per month from Saradha boss Sudipta Sen for helping him run his business in Assam without hassles.

Sarma hinted that there was a political conspiracy and vowed not to contest elections till he is cleared in the case. He had resigned from Tarun Gogoi’s Cabinet after he raised a banner of revolt in July. CBI summoned him on Monday, but he could appear before it only on Wednesday. CBI had interrogated Congress leader and former minister Anjan Dutta, who allegedly had a business deal with Sudipta Sen, on Monday. CBI had also arrested one of Sarma’s aide Sadananda Gogoi earlier.

Sudipta Sen had alleged politicians, bureaucrats and media barons from Assam had fleeced him and had in a letter to CBI named them. After his examination, Sarma said that the letter which mentioned his name was not written by Sen. “This letter is written by some powerful politician in West Bengal. I have admitted that I have met Sudipta.”

Sarma said that he informed CBI that he had no monetary relation with Sen. “Till my name is not absolved from this case I will not fight an election.”