CBI calls 2 BJD MLAs over scam
CBI sources said on Wednesday that both the MLAs were summoned to appear on January 28 and January 29.
Bhubaneswar: The chit fund scam “ghost” has returned to haunt Odisha’s ruling BJD as two of its senior leaders and sitting MLAs have been summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Seashore chit fund scam.
According to sources, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik’s close aides — Mahakalapara MLA Anatanu Sabyasachi Nayak and Nayagarh MLA Arun Sahoo — have been served notices by the CBI to depose before it in the multi-crore Seashore chit fund scam.
CBI sources said on Wednesday that both the MLAs were summoned to appear on January 28 and January 29. However, none of them appeared before the agency till this report was filed.
It is suspected that both the MLAs have been served notices after the CBI got some vital leads regarding their involvement in the Seashore chit fund scam. Over 20 lakh small depositors have been duped to tune of Rs 32,000 crore by over 160 chit fund firms.
BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra on the other hand refused that no BJD leader has received any notice from the CBI and raised questions over the timing of the CBI notice which coincided with BJP president Amit Shah’s visit to Odisha on Thursday.
BJP vice-president Samir Mohanty said, “I am not aware of any notice to BJD leaders from the CBI.” However, he maintained that those leaders who have usurped money of nearly 20 lakh investors should be arrested.
“We want justice for 20 lakh investors who have been duped by chit fund companies,” Mr Mohanty said.
“CBI has delayed investigation and lakhs of people are waiting for justice. People of Odisha are aware that several MLAs, MPs and other leaders were arrested in chit fund scams in the past. There are several other chit fund companies which are yet to be brought under the purview of investigation and if that happens, nearly 30 to 40 BJD MPs, MLAs and former MLAs will be in the dock,” said Congress spokesperson Bibhu Prasad Tarai.
Earlier, the CBI had arrested BJD’s Cuttack-Choudwar MLA Pravat Ranjan Biswal in connection with the Seashore chit fund scam in September 2017. Later, he was granted bail by the Orissa High Court in June 2018.
On Tuesday, the Odisha High Court has granted anticipatory bail to BJD’s Balasore MP Rabindra Jena in connection with the Seashore chit fund scam.
Over 20 lakh small depositors have been duped to tune of Rs 32,000 crore by over 160 chit fund firms.