A misty-eyed Sudipta Sen covers his face after boarding the police vehicle in the court complex on Tuesday. Pictures by Bibhash Lodh

Calcutta, June 11: Of the many mysteries that shroud the Saradha scandal, here’s a tear-stained riddle: why did Sudipta Sen break down today?

The Saradha chief, who had kept his chin up through accounts of 10 suicides allegedly caused by the collapse of his deposit schemes and countless instances of lost life savings, cried today for the first time in full public view in the Alipore court.

“Today, he lost his composure and was spotted wiping tears and hiding his face with both hands,” said a lawyer who was present in the courtroom.

As theories ranging from remorse to repentance swept the court complex, policemen cited another reason: a sobbing friend who seemed unable to bear his downfall and who later managed to slip in an unanswered question: “Kemon achho (how are you)?”

“It seemed he cried after seeing a woman who was sobbing quietly in the courtroom while the hearing was on,” said a policeman who was standing guard near Sen.

The woman, clad in a black-and-white printed tunic paired with black leggings, stood in the third row of lawyers, policemen and curious onlookers, a few metres from where Sen was made to stand in the court of the chief judicial magistrate.

Throughout the hearing, Sen was staring at the floor, barring a few occasions when he tried to steal a glance at the woman, said the policeman who did not want to be identified as he is not authorised to speak to reporters.

“The moment she started crying, Sudipta, too, could not hold back his tears. He became restless and started wiping his eyes,” said the policeman.

Sources close to Sen said she was a friend who had “come down from Boston” but this could not be verified with her as she refused to take questions.

So far, the lone reference to Boston featured in the letter Sen purportedly wrote to the CBI. The letter had said that “very important data” were “stored at Boston in USA under” a central server.

A lawyer said today: “She started crying when one of his lawyers cited Sudipta’s deteriorating health and recounted how his luxurious living standards have changed drastically. He used to shave twice a day.”

The lawyer stressed on the facial factor possibly because of the salt-and-pepper beard Sen has grown in custody. Today, the court extended his custody in jail till June 25.

The woman who was in the court. Her face is being blurred as The Telegraph could not verify with her the accounts of the policeman and the lawyer

After the court hearing, as the crowd dispersed from the crammed courtroom, Sen was the first to be led into a police vehicle waiting at the gate.

While he was stepping out, the woman was again spotted near the vehicle and she asked: “Kemon achho?”

Before Sen could answer, policemen asked people to move away and a moist-eyed Sen occupied the back seat of the vehicle. Sen was again seen covering his face with two hands as the vehicle moved away.

Minutes later, the lady was seen coming from the side of the court lock-up near the office of Sudipta’s lawyer Samir Das.

She declined to field questions from the waiting reporters and tried to hide her face with a black leather bag.

Senior police officers in Lalbazar claimed ignorance. “Had she been important, my officers would have briefed me. I am not aware of it,” said an IPS officer in Lalbazar.