Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court today directed that West Bengal Transport Minister Madan Mitra, an accused in the multi-crore Saradha chitfund scam, will remain in house confinement under police surveillance till disposal of a CBI plea for cancellation of his bail.

Observing that Mitra is a Cabinet minister and has the power to influence witnesses if allowed to remain free, a division bench of justices Joymalyo Bagchi and Mir Dara Sheko directed that he would remain confined to his residence at Bhowanipore in south Kolkata once he is discharged from hospital.