CBI seizes Bengal CM’s paintings alleging chit fund fraud

Kolkata: The Central Bureau of Investigation officials today have seized around 20 or more paintings by Bengal’s CM Mamta Banerjee which were reportedly brought by some Chit fund company owners.

These work paintings of Ms. Banerjee where brought for prices ranging from Rs 3Lakh to Rs 10 lakh or even more by some owners who were under CBI scanner for buying them.

The CBI issued summons to Trinamool general secretary Subrata Bakshi and Rajya Sabha party leader Derek O’ Brien to appear for investigation.

General Secretary Bakshi has already appeared before investigators while party leader O’Brien could not as he is busy with the winter session of Parliament.

Bengal CM responding to paintings seizure by the agency, said: “I run my party by selling some of my paintings. But for this also CBI calls me a thief.”

The government also withdrew its consent given to the agency to carry out its operation in the state.

CBI insiders allege Trinamool Congress has earned a few crores of rupees through the sale of the paintings and the agency plans to consider the money as ‘proceeds of a crime’.

A senior CBI official told ET: “We are investigating the sale of paintings and the money received. Even if we do not get into the valuation part, we are probing whether the chit fund owners have bought the paintings to enrich their art collection or to please the ruling party. In some cases, it was found that they only had the CM’s paintings and no other pieces of art.”

“We have recorded at least five to six complaints against some chit fund companies. These were sent to the PMO and were duly forwarded to the CMO for necessary action. So, it is understood that the government might not be fully unaware of the fact. However, the first case was filed against the Saradha group after the company went bust in 2013,” the official investigating the matter said.