CBI officers probing the I-Core deposit mobilisation scam questioned Bengal industries minister Partha Chatterjee in Calcutta on Monday.

The two-hour-long questioning was held in the minister’s office on Camac Street. On September 8, the CBI had summoned Chatterjee to present himself before the agency on September 13 for a round of interrogation.

Chatterjee had expressed his inability to appear for interrogation saying he was preoccupied with preparations for Bhowanipore byelections on behalf of the Trinamul Congress.

He had also said he was a senior citizen and if the officers wanted, they could meet him at his office, where the summons had been sent.

Accordingly, a team of three officers led by the investigating officer of the I-Core scam case turned up at Shilpa Sadan, the office of the industries minister, and also the address of the state’s directorate of industries.

“The officers showed courtesy and turned up at my office. I have told them that I will extend whatever help is required in their probe,” Chatterjee later said.

CBI officers said they wanted to know why Chatterjee had heaped praises on Anukul Maity, the managing director of I-Core, at one of the programmes organised by the company. The CBI had arrested Maity and he later died while in jail custody in Odhisha last November.

“The programme was held around the time when several complaints were lodged against the I-Core for allegedly duping investors,” said an officer.

“We wanted to know a few things from Chatterjee, including how long he had known Maity and whether there had been any financial transaction between the two.”

Chatterjee, sources said, told the sleuths that in 2011, he had attended the I-Core event to attract investment to Bengal. The CBI has claimed that besides praising Maity, Chatterjee had also assured help to the I-Core while attending the programme.

The officers carried a video clip of the event to Chatterjee’s office before questioning him in the presence of his lawyer.