Bhubaneswar, Jan. 1: Trinamul Congress MP Tapas Paul, who was arrested on Friday by the CBI in Calcutta for his alleged links with deposit collection company Rose Valley, today accused Union minister Babul Supriyo of being involved in the deposit collection firm's money laundering scam.

Paul, who was brought to Capital Hospital today for medical examination before the start of his three-day remand period, also alleged that Supriyo had implicated him in the case.

The actor-turned-politician alleged that Gautam Kundu, the chairman of Rose Valley, enjoyed a close relationship with the Union minister. "He is like the son of his house and they have done films together. Many political leaders, including Supriyo, are involved in the money laundering scam," Paul said while replying to questions of media persons at the hospital.

Paul claimed he was innocent and that he was still a popular leader enjoying full support of his party. "There are many people involved in the scam and their role will come to the fore very soon. I am innocent. Everything will be proved later," said the two-time MP from Bengal's Krishnanagar.

His wife Nandini, who accompanied the actor, backed her husband saying that his arrest was politically motivated. "He (Paul) worked as the director in a film produced by the Rose Valley Group and received monthly remuneration through cheque after tax deduction. I am well aware that he did not receive money for any other reason apart from his remuneration," said Nandini.

On Saturday, the court of special chief judicial magistrate, CBI, had sent the actor in three-day remand for further interrogation. Paul allegedly promoted the deposit collection firm, which swindled around Rs 17,000 crore in the country, including Rs 450 crore from investors in Odisha.

The CBI in its preliminary charge sheet has charged the deposit collection firm with duping over 1.25 lakh people in Odisha with the promise of high interest on their investments. Sources in the CBI said the investigating agency was also trying to bring Kundu on remand to extract more information related to the business of the group in Odisha.

The state crime branch, which was earlier probing the financial irregularities of the group in the state, had also attached assets, including Rs 51 crore in various banks, Rs 47 lakh in cash, 15-acre land in Bhubaneswar and Balasore of the Rose Valley group.

The state police had registered 25 cheating cases against the company at various places in the state and had also arrested seven functionaries of the deposit collection company. The Calcutta-based firm had collected money from investors through its 65 branches across the state.