Mukul Roy not named in CBI charge sheet

Kolkata: The supplementary charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Saradha scam investigations, have further fuelled speculation over the possibility of Mukul Roy, general secretary of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), defecting to the BJP.

In spite of being named during the investigations by none other than the prime accused Sudipto Sen and his colleague Debjani Mukherjee of having benefited from the scam, Roy’s name did not figure in the charge sheet and the voluminous 2500 page report that the investigation agency had submitted in a local court on Wednesday.

“These are clear indications that he (Roy) must have cut a deal with the BJP. Otherwise when Madan Mitra was arrested during his first interrogation why was he let out? Since his first interrogation he hasn’t being summoned yet,” questioned a TMC member.

Others indicate that Roy who had been spending lot of his time in Delhi is in constant touch with senior BJP leaders including home Minister Rajnath Singh and finance minister Arun Jaitley and is said to be planning his move to the saffron party.

While a section of the party is keen to induct him at the earliest, others are sceptical that it could severally affect the prospects of the party on a national scale.

Roy, who was Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s most trusted man, is known for his organizational skills and is credited for the growth of TMC party that eventually ousted the machinery of the Communist parties in the state.

The results of the recent by-polls have indicated that in spite of the growing popularity of the BJP, it is unable to translate that into seats due to lack of party organisation in the state. Roy with his organizational skills could reverse this trend ahead of the civic polls this year and the crucial state assembly elections in 2016 and BJP could emerge as the principal opposition to the TMC.

While senior BJP leaders including Siddarthnath Singh is unwilling to reply to any questions regarding Roy’s induction, sources within the BJP confirm that the final decision lies with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) could also be a deciding factor as the parent organisation of the BJP has indicated that no lateral entry of leaders into the party after the electoral loss in Delhi where they had projected Kiran Bedi as the chief ministerial candidate.

Also a section of the BJP though is largely opposed to Roy’s induction sighting that it could severally affect the party’s image on a national basis.

“We are a pan India party. Our decision in one state could have severe implications in the other states. Roy may be useful in Bengal, but our opponents will cite the same as an opportunistic alliance where we have also used the CBI as a tool for political gains. Also the investigating agency has not given him a clean chit yet,” said a BJP leader unwilling to be named.