File pic: Former Assam DGP Shankar Barua
Former Assam Director General of Police Shankar Barua, who was recently raided by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam, was found dead today in an apparent suicide.
The police say Mr Barua shot himself with his revolver at his Guwahati home. His 90-year-old mother was reportedly present in the house.
The retired police officer, who has two sons, had returned home today after four days in hospital for a heart problem.
His house was among over 20 locations that were raided in West Bengal and Assam.
The "humiliation" was too much, said sources close to the officer, who was given a guard of honour by the Assam police during his funeral this evening.
Sources say the CBI took Mr Barua to a State Bank of India branch, checked his accounts and left, saying he would be called for questioning if needed. He reportedly handed a personal diary to the CBI team.
Mr Barua's phone number was allegedly found in the phone call list of jailed Saradha chairman Sudipta Sen.
The homes of two former Assam ministers were also searched in the raids.
The CBI has till now registered 48 cases, including four in West Bengal and 44 in Odisha, in the alleged chit fund scam.
Earlier this month, the police arrested former West Bengal Director General of Police Rajat Majumdar.
The Saradha Group operated a Ponzi scheme offering massive returns of 40 per cent and more until it collapsed last year, leaving lakhs of small investors bankrupt in West Bengal and Odisha. The collapse triggered huge protests; three investors committed suicide.
The Supreme Court had in July ordered the CBI to probe "the involvement of higher-ups including politicians and aspects of money laundering."