Bengal minister Manas Bhuniya has been summoned by the CBI in connection with its probe into the iCore deposit-mobilisation default “scam”.

The water resources investigation and development minister was asked to meet the sleuths at their office at the CGO Complex in Bidhannagar near Calcutta on Monday.

Sabang MLA Bhuniya has been asked to appear before the CBI since the investigators plan to quiz him over his purported presence at an event organised by the now defunct iCore group.

Bhuniya was purportedly present at the event alongside Anukul Maiti, the chief of the group.

The investigators have access to video footage of the event and want to question Bhuniya over praise he purportedly lavished on the group, said sources.

Maiti, who was arrested by the CBI and was lodged in the Jharpada prison in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar, succumbed to Covid-19 in November last year.

“The programme was held around the time when several complaints were already lodged against iCore for allegedly duping investors,” said an official.