Saradha’s Darjeeling-based office has ‘master plan’ to clear money

SNS, DARJEELING, 21 APRIL: At a time when several branch offices of Saradha Group in the state have fallen prey to the scam with its CMD Sudipto Sen absconding, its management based in Darjeeling today said it has a ‘master plan’ to clear up the maturity of more than 1.5 lakh depositors at the Saradha Group all over the Hills. With the fund collected, we will pay the maturity of our depositors,” said Mr Pravin Zimba, development supervisor at the Darjeeling branch office of Saradha Group adding that the new working committee will not accept new entries.

The maturity generally refers to a set time period at the end of which the financial instrument will cease to exist and the principal is repaid with interest. “We are hearing that several branch offices of the company all over the country are shutting down. But we have come forward to clear out the hard-earned money of our depositors. I started to work for this company when I saw that it has all the legal certificates required.

Now if anyone tries to stop us be it political or any, they will be held responsible,” said Mr Zimba

The branch office of Sarada in Darjeeling is located at SM Das road and started to operate since March 2010 and has the strength of about 5,000 agents all over the Hills, said Mr Zimba adding that it has more that 1.5 lakh depositors within the Darjeeling sub-division investing at Saradha Group.

It has also been learnt from Mr Zimba that, “Within the span of 6 months the company bought a land measuring more than 1 acre at Ghoom worth about 1 crore 8 lakhs.”

“This office in Darjeeling presently used to collect 15 crore per month,” added one of the members of the management.

Further, according to the announcement made today by Mr Zimba, it has been learnt that this master plan more or less referred to the same and earlier ‘chit fund’. The only difference is that it will not accept any new entries rather will collect the sum from its agents. However, the renewal of the depositors is important. How much they will collect has not been revealed, with the management maintaining to have further meetings with prior consult with the legal advisors before operating.

It can be added that a series of meetings were held with its management, the depositors and the agents today at its office in Darjeeling amid tight security. No information of vandalism has been reported. On the other hand, many depositors standing in a queue were seen panicking while agents tried to console them.\

At the end, everybody left the premises after hearing the announcement. 

People who stood hours at the office left perplexed. “Before I made the investment, the management of the company showed us the land they had bought as their financial strength. They even said that the operation will help in reducing unemployment in the Hills. They showed us two ambulances that operates free of cost within Darjeeling. By looking at all the factors, they made us believe that our investment is safe. In return, I am loosing five lakhs,” said an investor. On the condition of anonymity, another local lady was seen questioning the legality of the working committee. “We have been hearing that the company is at bankruptcy and moreover the state is shutting down the Company. Upon what legal grounds the committee will function?” she said. One of the management said: “We have decided to form a committee. Further we will hold a chain of meetings with the management and will also consult the legal advisors about the legality to function.” (Photo courtesy: Vikram Rai, Face book- Darjeeling times.com - Darjeeling News https://www.facebook.com/DarjeelingTimes )