New Delhi: Grappling with "scant resources" to probe Saradha chit fund scam, CBI on Friday said it has sought from West Bengal government to fulfill only the "minimal" requirements which include six (eight-seater) vehicles and a place for setting up an office among others.
"CBI`s Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by its Joint Director has requested the Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal to provide accommodation in Kolkata for setting up of an office and facilitate the stay of CBI`s SIT members including officers and staff," CBI spokesperson Kanchan Prasad said.
Besides, she said, six vehicles (eight-seaters) with drivers, two landline phones with STD facility and internet facility, two xerox machies and one fax machine, six desktop computers with printers and scanner, six laptops, eight mobile phones with SIM Cards and eight almirahs for keeping documents have been sought from the state government.
"Even these demands have not been met till date, although the process has started," Prasad said.
She said the agency has sought the attachment of 10 Inspectors and 20 Constables of high integrity and competence to SIT for helping in the investigation-related work at this stage.
"These are all functional and logistical requirements for the investigation of the cases. The scant resources of CBI would not have been able to meet the requirements of the alleged multi-crore chit fund scam in which several hundred cases have been registered in West Bengal alone. This is a very minimal requirement projected by CBI keeping in view the enormity of the case," she said.
The Supreme Court had on May 9 transferred the investigation into the chit fund scam to CBI.
"The apex court had also directed the state police agencies to provide the fullest cooperation to CBI including assistance in terms of men and material to enable the latter to conduct & complete the investigation expeditiously," she said.
