TMC MP Mukul Roy questioned by CBI in connection with Saradha scam for 5 hours

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress General Secretary Mukul Roy was questioned by CBI on Friday in connection with the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam even as he said that he wanted the "actual truth" to come out.

He gave an assurance that he would cooperate with the probe agency.

"I want the actual truth to come out. I told them (CBI) if they think it necessary, they can call me anytime, I can talk.

Let the actual truth come out. Let the investigation proceed properly," the TMC leader told reporters after nearly five hours of questioning at the CBI office at Salt lake here.

The former Railway Minister, who faced three rounds of questioning, said, "From day one, I had stated that if the investigating agency calls me for the sake of investigation, I will join and cooperate. I came here at 10.30 in the morning as scheduled."

CBI first summoned the Rajya Sabha MP on January 12. Roy, who was in New Delhi at that time, had said he would meet CBI on the first occasion after returning to Kolkata.

However, after returning here on January 14, he sought 15 days extension to appear before the agency, saying he would be pre-occupied with by-elections in two seats in the state. He left for Delhi again on January 15.

Later, Roy emailed to CBI requesting it for his appearance "any time after 2 PM on January 28 or January 29 or 30" as he would be busy in various engagements in Delhi.

CBI on January 22 had asked him to appear before it on January 28.

But, Roy again sought time as the Supreme Court was supposed to hear on January 27 petitions filed by the West Bengal government and the Trinamool Congress regarding the ongoing CBI probe.

However, the apex court deferred the hearing.

The special branch of CBI on January 27 had said that Roy had given an assurance that he would appear on January 30.

CBI sources said the TMC leader would be called again, but the date of his appearance was yet to be decided.

Later, Roy told party workers at a programme, "I thank the people of Bengal for showering love on me for so long. "Those poor people who kept their entire wealth with this company (Saradha), justice should not be denied to them."