CBI moves HC against Madan Mitra’s bail

Kolkata, Sep 13 (IANS) Four days after a lower court granted Trinamool Congress leader and former minister Madan Mitra bail in the multi-billion Saradha scam, the CBI on Tuesday moved the Calcutta High Court pleading for cancellation of the relief.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenged the relief arguing that Mitra continued to be "influential", though he was no more a minister or lawmaker.

On Friday, the Alipore Sessions Court had granted Mitra bail. With Mitra having resigned as a minister and also lost the assembly polls, his counsel were successful in convincing the court that he was no more an "influential person".

Mitra was behind bars since his arrest on December 12, 2014, except for a brief period in October 2015, when he was granted bail by a lower court. The relief was subsequently cancelled by the Calcutta High Court.

Indicted of cheating, conspiracy and criminal breach of trust, the former state Transport and Sports Minister was one of the most high profile arrests in the Saradha scam after the CBI took over the probe.

Mitra had stepped down as minister on November 19 last year, hours before the Calcutta High Court eventually cancelled his bail granted by a lower court.