Saradha Scam: CBI files charge sheet against P Chidambaram's wife Nalini

In a further blow to the Chidambaram family, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet against Nalini Chidambaram, the wife of former Union finance minister P Chidambaram, alleging she had received Rs 1.4 crore from Saradha group of companies, embroiled in a chit fund scam. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said it is alleged Nalini had entered into a criminal conspiracy with Sudipta Sen, the proprietor of Saradha Group, and other accused with an intention of cheating and misappropriation of funds of Saradha group of companies.

The CBI also alleged that Manoranjana Sinh, the estranged wife of former Union minister Matang Sinh, introduced Sen to Nalini to manage probes by various agencies like SEBI, ROC against him for which she allegedly received Rs 1.4 crore during 2010-12 through his companies, he said.

The charge sheet was filed in a special court in Kolkata, he said. The group had generated Rs 2,500 crore from people luring with attracting interest rates which were not repaid.

Sen had closed operations of the company in 2013 after failing to pay returns. This is the sixth charge sheet in the Saradha scam which was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation by the Supreme Court in 2014.

In 2014, The Supreme Court ordered a probe into the multi-crore-rupee Saradha scam and transferred the case to CBI in 2014. Thousands of investors were left in the lurch by the scam and it led to the arrest of many leaders and ministers of the state's ruling Trinamool Congress. All of them are now out on bail. Sen and his associate Debjani Mukherjee, arrested in 2013 from Kashmir, are in custody.

(With PTI inputs)