Saradha scam row: Matang Sinh ordered 13 days in judicial custody

KOLKATA: Former Union minister Matang Sinh, who was arrested in connection with the multi-crore Saradha scam, was today remanded in 13 days judicial custody by a city court though he was not produced before it as he is admitted in a state-run hospital.

Sinh had complained of illness following his arrest yesterday evening and was admitted to SSKM Hospital here.

Acting ACJM Srijita Chakraborty sent Sinh to judicial remand till February 13 after papers relating to his arrest was produced before her.

CBI counsel Partha Sarathi Dutta, however, said that under law, no remand, whether police or judicial, can be given to an accused till he or she is produced before the court in person.

Dutta said a revision application would be moved before the court within a day or two to overcome the alleged anomaly.

Sinh was arrested in connection with the Saradha scam by CBI, which is now probing his alleged 'deep nexus' with a senior bureaucrat in the Home Ministry who had purportedly helped him evade arrest.

Sinh, who was arrested by Special Investigation Team of CBI here, was charged with criminal conspiracy, cheating and misappropriation of funds related to Saradha Realty, one of the companies of the group which is being probed by the agency.

He is the first former Union minister to be arrested by the agency in connection with the case.