Kolkata: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) entrusted by the Supreme Court of India to solve the chit fund scam are closing the net on politicians and eminent personalities with alleged links with the group.

“We are very close to solving the mystery of individuals who had helped Saradha Group gain confidence among people so that they could entrust Sudipto Sen, the chief of the scam, with their money. Using one’s personal image to convince people is an equal offence,” said an investigating officer.

ED has questioned eminent filmmaker and actor Aparna Sen on Monday for her alleged role as an editor of a Bengal magazine run by the company. They have also questioned other Trinamool Congress lawmakers for their alleged role in the organisation.

Sen has refused to comment to the media. However, sources within the ED told Gulf News she was grilled about the salary she had drawn from the company for her role as an editor.

“Sen’s statement was recorded under section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). She replied to all the queries the sleuths had and has assured she would cooperate with them in future with regard to this case,” the source said.

The actor is understood to have told the ED officials that she knew nothing of the business investments and other Ponzi schemes run by the group.

Sudipto Sen, the prime accused, had repeatedly alleged that getting involved into the media business led to the fall of his companies.

However, CBI and ED officials believe the high salaries that Sudipto offered certain individuals was actually a payout for many hidden individuals, who preferred to remain outside the public eye.

The Special Investigation Team the West Bengal government had formed had earlier arrested Kunal Ghosh for his alleged involvement in the scam, was in-charge of the media division of the group.

“Editors were paid salaries in millions, which is absolutely disproportional to the industry standards. You all work in the media tell us who gets paid in billions,” asked a CBI officer looking into the links of the individuals involved with the group.

CBI has conducted raids at 90 placed in the last seven days, and the agency is keen to unravel the mystery by year end.

“We are answerable to the court on the progress of the investigations. The group had created a maze of financial transactions around itself to ensure that it become difficult to find where the money has been siphoned off. Our officers are working round the clock to solve the mystery,” informed a senior official.