Calcutta High Court on Friday asked the State to submit an affidavit for unutilised funds which had been allocated to the “Compensation Fund” for Sarada Scam for payment to depositors.
Bench of Justices Suvra Ghosh and Joymalya Bagchi also asked the report of the Commission which was lying in sealed cover before Registrar to be placed before Court on next date of hearing after 4 weeks.
The Court was hearing matter of Subhojit Sen against Enforcement Directorate, when advocate appearing for the depositors in ‘Sarada scam’ submitted that a substantial portion of the money allocated by the State Government with the ‘Compensation Fund’ for Sarada scam had remained unutilised. Senior Standing Counsel appearing for the State-respondents showed the averment that a sum of Rs.138,95,82,438/- which was lying unutilised in the bank account of the Commission has been credited to the consolidated fund of the State of West Bengal on 3rd November, 2017.
The Bench observed that it appears out of 500 crores allocated by the Government to the ‘Compensation Fund’, 4,98,345 cheques amounting to Rs.251,22,47,550/- were issued and 328 nos. of ECS payment amounting to Rs.11,94,550/- were also made to 4,98,673 beneficiaries by the Commission during its tenure which came to an end on 22nd October, 2014. Remaining unutilised funds were credited to the consolidated fund of the State.
Advocate appearing for the depositors submits that the State Government may be directed to utilise the aforesaid funds for payment to the depositors.
After hearing the submissions, the Bench called upon the State to place on record a proposal, if any, with regard to utilisation of the aforesaid unutilised funds which had been allocated to the ‘Compensation Fund’ for Sarada scam for payment to depositors.