By Soumitra Nandi 

Kolkata: Former union minister Matang Sinh who was arrested by the CBI in the multi-crore Saradha scam on Saturday alleged before the Alipore court that there has been a conspiracy behind his arrest by the central investigating agency. However, Sinh remained tight lipped while he was questioned to elaborate on his statement while he was taken to the CBI custody in the prison van.

Sinh was denied bail by the acting Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) of Alipore court and was remanded to CBI custody till February 11. Sinh was produced before the court in the afternoon after he was released from the Alipore jail hospital.

Pleading for his bail on health grounds Matang Sinh said before the court that he had underwent a liver transplant some years back and is on life saving drugs. “I take 22 medicines daily. I was in a very bad state inside the jail hospital and there was lack of proper treatment,” he alleged.
Referring to the investigating officer of the CBI in the Sarada Realty case Sinh added,” Some time back, the IO of the case had himself approached me twice; once when I was in Delhi and once at my residence. I had said that I was willing to pay back the money. I had already handed over Rs 50 lakh to Justice Shyamal Sen Commission in West Bengal that was set up to pay back the investors of Saradha. But yet I was arrested. There is a big game.”

Praying for 10 days custody for the accused CBI counsel Partha Sarathi Dutta said,” Matang Sinh is a beneficiary of the Saradha funds. He conspired and entered into agreements with media houses to siphon huge amount of money. He is a member of larger conspiracy and along with prime accused Sudipta Sen he made various illegal agreements for his own monetary benefits thereby laundering public money. “

After listening to both parties, acting ACJM Alipore court Manikuntala Roy remanded Sinh to CBI custody till February 11. The magistrate also directed the investigating agency to arrange for proper medical treatment for Sinh and also allowed the presence of Sinh’s counsel during interrogation.