Kolkata, April 20 (IANS): Revving up its attack against the Congress-led central government over the Saradha scam, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress Sunday questioned the motive behind the Enforcement Directorate (ED) stepping up the probe in the scandal during the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

A day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused union Finance Minister P.Chidambaram of instigating the ED of arresting her party leaders, state Finance Minister Amit Mitra alleged the central agency was being used to derive political gains.

"The ED comes directly under the union finance ministry and the minister who has just few days left in office, why is he sending them to Bengal two days ahead of the polls? Where was ED all these years when the Saradha group was flourishing," he asked.

"People realise that the ED has been sent to derive political benefits," said Mitra who further alleged that several financial irregularities at the central level were intentionally ignored.

The ED recently arrested Saradha group chairman and scam kingpin Sudipta Sen's wife and son under Prevention of Money Laundering Act and is tracking the money trail from the scam.

Asked by media persons if the ED has summoned any Trinamool leader for questioning, Mitra said: "I think you are mistaking me for ED. You should ask ED the question. We are not worried."

He also hit back at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi who Saturday accused the Banerjee government of shielding scamsters.

"He is grossly misinformed, and misleading people with a political motive," said Mitra who expressed disappointment over the central government delaying giving assent to a legislation passed by the state assembly in February to check the proliferation of chit funds.