CBI finds Sudipta deal with IRCTC

The Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI) has unearthed a deal between chit fund company Saradha Group and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation ( IRCTC) when West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was railway minister.

According to the deal, Saradha Tours & Travels, a subsidiary company of Saradha Group, was roped in as “official partner” by IRCTC in December 2010 for conducting its tours in South India under “Bharat Tirth”, a special tourist train service introduced by Ms Banerjee, the CBI has learnt.

Questioning a former Saradha employee, the CBI found that the company provided services and earned a percentage of commission from IRCTC.