Mamata Banerjee Saradha Scam: It has been a decade since she came into power and ruled West Bengal efficiently. She is a self-made woman who has built an empire on her own. In 1998, she separated from the Indian National Congress (INC) and founded her own party called All India Trinamool Congress (AITC or TMC). In 2011, she was chosen as the 9th Chief Minister of West Bengal.
Apart from this, she has also served on the various posts of the Indian Cabinet. She is the most loved politician of West Bengal and is fondly called Didi. But there are various scams and controversies about Mamata Banerjee that you need to know. The most painful scam of her life was the Saradha Group Financial Scandal.
Saradha Scam: Biggest Scandal Of Mamata Banerjee
via: The economic times
Saradha Group financial scandal is one of the biggest financial scams of all time. This scam was initiated by Saradha Group in a form of investing scheme that promise higher returns. It targeted small investors and money was collected through a network of agents.
In a very short duration of time, it became popular and soon expanded to Odisha, Assam and Tripura. Shortly the number of investors reached 1.7 million. The group collected around 200 to 300 billion rupees from middle-class people. From January 2013, the company got into a financial crisis and the scheme collapsed by April.
Also Read: Must-Read! 6 Facts And Controversies About Rahul Gandhi
Thereafter, agents and investors started filing police complaints. Later, Mamata Banerjee party TMC came into the limelight. The government of Bengal initially appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) for the probe.
via: India Today
Dozens of TMC MLAs and MPs were questioned in a CBI probe and most of them were directly involved in the group operation. TMC leader and actress Satabdi Roy was the brand ambassador of Saradha at that time. TMC MP Kunal Ghosh had also invested Rs 988 crore and was appointed as the CEO of the media group.
Also Read: How Did Shivraj Singh Chouhan Get Over The Vyapam Scam Case 2009?
On 14th April 2013, FIR was filed against MP Kunal Ghosh. He was repeatedly questioned by the SIT to determine the assets of the company and the facts of the Saradha Scam. After the investigation, they arrested him along with the six officials of the Saradha Group.
Thereafter, Ghosh revealed 12 names of people involved in it including four TMC MPs and the Chief Minister of West Bengal. Then the case was transferred to CBI in 2014.
In 2019, CBI grabbed the Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar for questioning him. After that Mamata Banerjee staged a three-day sit-in protest against the CBI move.
Also Read: Lesser Known Facts About Joe Biden as Democratic Presidential Nominee Nears Victory
6 Unknown facts About Mamata Banerjee
via: Hindustan Times
1. Mamata Banerjee lost her father due to a lack of medical treatment when she was only 17 years old.
2. Without any training and professional classes, Mamta learned poetry and painting. One of her paintings was auctioned at the gala event in New York City.
3. She is very choosy about food. She usually eats puffed rice, tea, chocolates and avoids oily and spicy food.
4. She walks 5-6 km every day on a treadmill. She also goes for long walks with her colleagues and journalists on the Assembly lawns.
5. She was graduated in History from Jogamaya Devi College. She also did her Masters in Islamic History as well as has degrees in law and Education.
6. Mamata Banerjee was also listed in the 100 Most Influential People all over the world by Times Magazine.