Kolkata: West Bengal Minister Madan Mitra, arrested on Friday by CBI in connection with the Saradha scam, today claimed he was victim of political conspiracy.
“I am a victim of political conspiracy. Mamata Banerjee has already spoken on this,” Mitra told reporters after coming out of Alipur court where he was produced by CBI this afternoon.
The Transport and Sports Minister was remanded to four days in CBI custody by the court.
The court premises was fortified with deployment of a large number of police personnel and both its gates were closed.
Thousands of Trinamool Congress supporters, mostly from Kamarhati, the assembly constituency he represents, squatted in front of one the gates, shouted slogans and displayed placards in a show support to Mitra.
They also burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and tore his pictures.
After the verdict, they stayed put in front of the gate waiting for Mitra and the police had a trying time to find a safe passage for Mitra's car.
TMC supporters clung to the roofrails of the vehicle on both sides and banged the glass windows which had been rolled up.
CBI investigating officer F B Karna sat beside Mitra.
The police managed to disperse them soon but the traffic in front of the court complex was thrown out of gear.
Meanwhile, TMC workers protested when Mitra was brought to Alipore court for production. The supporters with placards in hand were vocal against the Modi government at the Centre and termed Mitra's arrest ‘a deep-rooted conspiracy'.
Many supporters showered petals on the vehicle carrying Mitra. With processions, road blocks and burning of effigies of BJP leaders, Trinamool Congress launched its state-wide protest condemning the arrest of Mitra. Reports of demonstrations and blockades of roads and railway track poured in from various parts of the state.
