Saradha scam: ED summons painter Shuvaprasan, industrialist Neotia

Kolkata, March 21: Painter Shuvaprasan Bhattacharya and city industrialist Harshavardhan Neotia have been summoned for questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the multi-crore-rupee Saradha scam.

Confirming the summons, Neotia — who co-owns Indian Super League franchise Atletico de Kolkata — said he has been asked to appear for questioning regarding his association with Bhattacharya whose several paintings he had purchased in the past.

“I have been asked to appear before the ED on March 27,” Neotia said on Saturday.

The painter, perceived to be close to West Bengal’s ruling Trimool Congress, has been summoned about a business deal he made with Saradha Group chief and scam kingpin Sudipta Sen.

Bhattacharya had sold Devkripa Vyapar Pvt. Ltd., the holding company of Akhon Samay, a news channel. Despite the channel never going on air, Bhattacharya is alleged to have sold it to Sen at an inflated price in 2011.

Both Bhattacharya and Neotia were grilled by the ED in October 2014. The agency has also quizzed Bhatacharya’s wife Shipra, who was one of the directors in Devkripa.

The painter is also under the scanner of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which is probing the chit fund scam. IANS