West Bengal Transport Minister Madan Mitra - who was arrested in the Saradha chit fund scam - Tuesday accused the CBI of pressurising him to take the names of his party leadership, including that of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.Mitra, who was presented before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Haradhan Mukherjee on the expiry of his CBI custody, also charged the central probe agency with "mentally killing him"."I am being pressurised to name my party leaders. The interrogators are telling me to say that Mamata Banerjee has taken money. I have been mentally tortured by the CBI sleuths," Mitra told the court.Mitra also claimed he was being hounded by nearly 50 Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers at a time, who were forcibly trying to collect his voice sample.
"All the time, four officers with their faces covered are mentally harassing me. When they are not getting me to say what they want, I am being hounded by 50 of their men. Am I a thief or a dacoit?" Mitra asked the court."They are forcibly trying to get my voice recorded," he said.Citing his "fragile" health, Mitra urged the court not to extend his CBI custody and grant him bail."I have high cholesterol, and I am also undergoing psychiatric treatment. I am also suffering from urine infection. You are free to give me any punishment but please do not send me to CBI custody. They are trying to kill me mentally," he said.
Urging the court to grant him bail, Mitra said he was a minister and a responsible citizen with his family staying in the city since 1885."I will not abscond. Where will I go from here?" Mitra asked, and pleaded with the court to grant him bail.After hearing the defence and the prosecution, the court denied bail and extended Mitra's CBI custody till Dec 19.