Saradha scam: Nalini Chidambaram examined by CBI

CBI sleuths investigating the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam examined Nalini Chidambaram, wife of former union finance minister P Chidambaram in Chennai on Saturday.

CBI sleuths investigating the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam examined Nalini Chidambaram, wife of former union finance minister P Chidambaram in Chennai on Saturday.

A CBI team comprising officials from Kolkata and Delhi examined her on the professional fees received by her for rendering legal advice to Manoranjana Sinh, estranged wife of former union minister Matang Sinh, according to official sources. The CBI team spent a little over half an hour at her residence, sources said on Sunday.

Saradha group chairman, Sudipta Sen, now in jail, had mentioning the hiring of Nalini Chidambaram at the request of Manoranjana Sinh and paying her a fees of Rs 1 crore.

Nalini was assisting and giving professional advise to Manoranjana in her negotiations with Sen in connection with a deal to acquire a television channel for his group.

Sources close to Nalini denied that she was questioned by the CBI. The investigating agency had only obtained a 70-page report she had prepared in connection with the TV channel acquisition.

The fees of Rs 1 crore was for one year’s assistance, which was transparent and nominal, sources close to her said.

Nalini Chidambaram later in a press statement said “CBI did not question me. CBI officers wanted to know whether Mrs. Manoranjana Sinh had consulted me professionally . I told them yes I was consulted.”