Calcutta, Dec. 30: The CBI today arrested Trinamul MP Tapas Paul in connection with its Rose Valley deposit-mobilisation probe.

Paul, actor and two-time MP from Nadia's Krishnagar, had served as director, brand value communication, of the film division of Rose Valley for a brief period in 2009.

Paul maintains that he received a salary of Rs 80,000 a month following the deduction of taxes for the four months that he worked for Rose Valley. CBI sources, however, said Paul's monthly salary had been Rs 5 lakh.

The sources said Paul is suspected to have helped Rose Valley chief Gautam Kundu obtain licences when the latter launched a Bengali entertainment channel.

Paul's wife Nandini used to host a cookery show on the channel. His daughter Sohini had acted in a Rose Valley-produced film named Colonel, which never released. Charges have not been brought against either. Hosting a cookery show and acting in a film alone cannot be considered as contravention of the law.

Paul entered the CBI's office at the CGO complex in Salt Lake around 12.15pm. After over three hours of questioning, he was arrested for alleged failure to give satisfactory answers to questions on his association with Rose Valley, the CBI sources said.

The questions to Paul included:

♦ Why did he receive his salary in cash?

♦ Why did he continue to visit the Rose Valley office after resigning?

♦ Why did he not include the name of Rose Valley in the list of "chit funds" that he sent to the Centre in June 2010, seeking action?

♦ Why was over Rs 1 crore transferred to his bank account from three Rose Valley accounts?

"He has been charged under IPC Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant) and 420 (cheating) and also under the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act," a CBI officer said. The charges carry a maximum punishment of a 10-year jail term.