Agartala: The Tripura government has decided to hand over 74 cases of different chit fund scams which are now being investigated by a special investigation team (SIT) set up by Tripura High Court in 2015.

An official notification from the home department on Friday said the CBI had submitted a prayer to the high court, seeking right to probe 11 chit fund cases. The state requested the apex investigation agency to take up all chit fund-related cases.

In 2014, the erstwhile Left Front government handed over 37 cases of chit fund companies to the CBI of which it accepted only five.

Inspector-general of police (law and order) K.V. Sreejesh said on Friday investigation into all cases related to chit funds are "nearly over".

"We have almost completed our investigation. Probe into seven or eight cases are pending now. A chargesheet was filed in all other cases. Over a hundred people were arrested." Sreejesh said.

He added that the probe into cases that are left have been put on hold. "We do not know which cases will be taken up by the CBI. They can also take up cases after the chargesheet is filed in the court."

Badal's stand: Former finance minister Badal Choudhury on Friday said he would resign as an MLA if any link with the chit fund scam or illegal property is found against him. Choudhury and former social welfare minister Bijita Nath were grilled by a special team of the CBI over the chit fund scams on Thursday. Both claimed they were questioned as "witnesses" and the sleuths were "satisfied" with their replies.

Choudhury said: "Rose Valley chief Goutam Kundu is in CBI custody now. I asked them to get details of those involved in chit fund scam in Agartala. There are many in Tripura who took money from Rose Valley. The real culprits should be brought to justice."

He strongly defended the erstwhile Left Front government and said they were the only ones to propose handing over 37 cases on chit fund scams to the CBI in 2014. "These pertained Rose Valley, Saradha Group, Sahara Pariwar and others. CBI accepted five. We tried out best," he claimed.