Bhubaneswar: The ruling party of Odisha, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is under the scanner over the 20,000 crore chit fund scam. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had summoned State General Ashok Mohanty in this case after which he had resigned from his post.
The resignation had been accepted by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik about four months after he stepped down from his post on being summoned by the CBI.
Sources said that he bought a luxurious house in Cuttack at minimum prices from a prime accused in the scam.
Sources reveals that one of the prime accused of 20,000 crore Odisha chit fund scam Ranjan Das who was arrested by CBI, is helping senior BJD leaders – Kalpatru Das and Pravat Tripathy – file nomination papers of Naveen Patnaik for the party president election in January 2013. Ranjan allegedly also went to Naveen Patnaik’s house to get his signature on the nomination papers.
The Odisha crime branch had recommended action against about a dozen chit fund companies but the state government went ahead and signed MoUs with them for several projects.
Names of several BJD leaders including those linked to Odisha Chief Minister have come under the scanner in the chit fund scam that duped over one million people in the state. Fingers are also being pointed towards Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for allegedly not just protecting the scamsters but promoting them in their illegal business.
Meanwhile BJD had rubbish the link of CM with accused. Senior BJD minister Damodar Rout said, “The two BJD leaders who are there in the picture might be knowing Ranjan personally but how would Naveen Patnaik know about his presence during the nomination.”
A list of a dozen chit fund companies recommending action against them including those of Seashore and Artha Tatwa had been prepared by Odisha crime branch in 2010.
But shockingly instead of taking action against such companies Odisha government signed MoUs with them for several Govt projects.
Congress leader Srikant Jena said, “The CM was acting like the brand ambassador of the chit fund companies. So they were opposing the CBI enquiry. Now the role of all BJD leaders in the scam will be clear.”
Bureau Report
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