The actor and Trinamool Congress MP had been paid the sum for his appearance on one of Saradha’s TV channels. It was purely professional and he had no intentions of duping anyone
Kolkata : Trinamool Congress MP and actor Mithun Chakraborty has returned the money he had received from the Saradha group to the Enforcement Directorate.
Chakraborty’s advocate on Tuesday deposited a draft for Rs 1.19 crore at the Enforcement Directorate office in Kolkata. The actor had been paid that sum for his appearance on one of Saradha’s TV channels.
Chakraborty had been interrogated by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam.
During his questioning, the actor had reportedly told the investigators that his association with the Saradha group was purely professional and that he had no intentions of cheating or duping anyone.
The actor had reportedly told the Enforcement Directorate last year that he had acted in promotional videos and advertisements that were broadcast on television shows produced by the Saradha group and this was done as per his contract.
Chakraborty’s name had cropped up in the case after ED officials found “evidence” to suggest that Rs 2 crore had been transferred from the company’s account to the actor’s. Although allegations had been made that Chakraborty was the “brand ambassador” of the group, the ED had failed to produce documents supporting it. The actor had denied being the brand ambassador of the company. He had also claimed that he was never involved in any financial transaction of the company and the post of the chief adviser in the news channel was ornamental. He had not done anything except for hosting a specific chat show for the channel.
Chakraborty, sources said, had furnished documents supporting most of his claims.
He, however had submitted a letter stating his appointment as the chief adviser of Channel 10, one of the media houses owned by the Saradha Group, ED source said.
The Enforcement Directorate had in June last year questioned the actor in Mumbai after it detected that about Rs. 2 crore had gone into his account from Saradha business portals.
Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha MP of the ruling party in West Bengal had told ED that he “actually acted in promotional videos and advertisements that were broadcast on television shows” made by the Saradha Group and that was done as per his contract.
He told investigators that if he had bad intentions, he would not have undertaken the promotional activity and instead merely stashed the money away.
The probe agency had in June last year questioned the actor in Mumbai after it detected that some money had gone into his account from Saradha business portals.
ED subsequently summoned him again early this year following which the latest submissions happened. While recording his statement last year, sources said.
Chakraborty had told investigators that he had “no business dealings” with the now-defunct group which was headed by Sudipta Sen and that he would share all personal transaction details with them.
