Ex-BJD MP gets bail after four years

Bhubaneswar: Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to suspended Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Lok Sabha MP Ramchandra Hansda who was lodged in jail since over four years in connection with Nabadiganta chit fund scam.

The Mayurbhanj MP, one of the directors of Nabadiganta Capital Services, was arrested by the CBI for his alleged involvement in the Odisha chit fund scam in November 4, 2014.

Mr Hansda’s lawyer Akshaya Mohanty informed media about the development.

“A two-bench member of the Supreme Court heard the bail application of the MP today. The court observed that since the charge-sheet has been filed, there is need of the MP being confined in jail for such a long period. The court asked the trial court to release the MP on bail without any conditions,” said the lawmaker’s counsel Mr Mohanty.

Following his arrest, the BJD had suspended Mr Hansda from the party. Notably, Mr Hansda was quizzed by a three-member team from ministry of corporate affairs at Jharpada Special Jail in March this year.

In February 2015, CBI had filed charge-sheet against Mr Hansda and seven others for their alleged complicity in the multi-crore chit fund scam. Months before his arrest, the investigating agency had raided Mr Hansda’s residence at Baripada in July, 2014 where it had seized '28 lakh. He, however, claimed that the cash seized belonged to him.