Mukul Roy addresses media 6 times in 2 hrs after CBI questioning - The Indian Express

Mukul Roy speaks to mediapersons after coming out of the CBI office in Salt Lake. (Source: Express Photo by Subham Dutta)

Trinamool Congress General Secretary Mukul Roy, who had tried to avoid the media prior to being questioned by the CBI in the Saradha scam case, addressed medipersons six times in two hours after he appeared before the agency in Kolkata on Friday.

Roy, who has been avoiding mediapersons for several weeks now, appeared “confident” after five hours of grilling by the CBI and praised the agency for its work.

He first addressed mediapersons at the CBI office. The other five were held at a public gathering a kilometer away from the CBI office, at the office of Bidhannagar Municipality Vice-Chairman and MLA Sabyasachi Dutta, outside the Trinamool ward office in Bidhan Nagar and at Nizam Palace where Roy has his office and residence.

In all the press conferences, Roy said he wanted the “actual truth” to come out. “I have informed my party leaders that I will cooperate with the CBI as a law abiding citizen and appear before the investigators yet again if I am summoned,” he added.

Roy entered the CBI office at 10.45 am for questioning. Though the party had planned a sit-in demonstration outside the CBI office, the plan was changed after Roy addressed workers at TMC Bhavan on Thursday. Party sources said Roy asked his colleagues not to organise any demonstration, as it will “make things worse”. Though there was no demonstration, TMC workers were seen standing outside the CBI office while Roy was being questioned.

A party leaders outside the CBI office said: “Dada (Roy) had assured us that he will come out around 3 pm.” Significantly, Roy left the CBI office after 3 pm.

Following this, he addressed a small public gathering nearby where MLA Sabyasachi Dutta had arranged for chairs and mikes. Sources said Roy had instructed his followers not to carry the party flag and raise slogans for Trinamool and party chief Mamata Banerjee.

Subhrangshu Roy, Trinamool MLA and Roy’s son, was not allowed to accompany his father to the CBI office during questioning by the party. “My father is innocent and he will come out clean. I am with my father, though I don’t know the party’s stand on this. My father never wanted there to be any delay in appearing before the CBI. He was given some assignments by the party for which he had to seek more time,” he said.

When contacted, BJP state president Rahul Sinha said: “Today is just the beginning. Roy will have to face more of CBI in days to come.”