Want Sudip to take care of his health: Mamata

Kolkata, May 19 (IANS) As Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandopadhyay was granted bail on Friday by the Orissa High Court, party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hoped he would recover his health on his return to the city.

"He was very ill... I had seen him. He was facing difficult circumstances. He had lost around 25-30 kg weight. I don't know how he is at the moment. I want him to take rest on his return and take care of his health," Banerjee told the media here at the end of an extended core committee meeting.

The Chief Minister said spending four and a half months in custody had taken a toll on Bandopadhyay's health.

Bandopadhyay was granted bail by the Orissa High Court after his arrest in connection with the Rose Valley chit fund scam.

Nayana, Sudip's wife, refused to comment.

"I am relieved but concerned as he is very ill. I will not say anything as I have not been permitted to give any reaction on this. Regarding Sudip, I will talk to the leaders and follow what they say," Nayana said.

West Bengal Consumer Affairs Minister Sadhan Pandey said the bail should have been granted earlier.

"I am happy because he is not in good health. He should have gotten it earlier," he said.

The High Court in Cuttack granted bail to the ailing leader on health grounds but asked him to furnish a bond or Rs 25 lakh.

Bandopadhyay was also ordered to deposit his passport with the officer probing the scam.

Bandopadhyay, a four-time Lok Sabha member and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare in former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's cabinet between 2011 and 2012, was under arrest since January 3, when he was taken into custody by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his alleged links with the Rose Valley scam.