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Bhubaneswar: The BJP today said the CBI is not willing to expedite chit fund probe in Odisha.
“Going by its mode of investigation, CBI has proved that it is guiltier than the chit fund companies. The fact remains that the chit fund companies are not afraid of the CBI investigation which is amply clear with the name of Oscar chit fund company coming to the fore. There are several other chit fund companies who are running their business in the state. Had the CBI been more stringent in its investigation, such incidents would have never occurred in our state and the innocent people would never have been the victims of fraud,” senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra told media persons here.
Replying to a question that some of his leaders are of the opinion that the CBI should take up Oscar chit fund probe, he said the leaders irrespective of their party affiliation would be treated as accused in the coming days if they try to protect the CBI.
“How can the Oscar chit fund company come under the purview of CBI probe? The Supreme Court has a list of chit fund companies which are to be probed by the CBI. Those who have not gone through the judgement of the apex court guidelines, should not bat for the CBI. Since CBI is an investigating agency, it is my request that no one should bat for it,” he pointed out.
Mohapatra further said the CBI has encouraged the chit fund companies in the state as it has allowed the prime accused to go scot-free. “The central investigating agency is dancing to the tune of the State Crime Branch. The Oscar chit fund issue is just a tip of the iceberg as more chit fund companies would surface in the state. There is a grand alliance among the criminals, the state government and the CBI and the poor and innocent people are the victims of this alliance.
Asked about the directive of the chief minister to the Superintendents of Police to deal sternly with the tender and transport mafia in the state, the BJP leader asked “Was the chief minister not aware of these mafia? Let him clarify as to why he had remained silent for a long period. It is proved that the mafia were operating in the state with the knowledge of the state government”.
Replying to his absence in the two-day state executive meeting of his party in Rourkela, he said he had some personal work for which he could not attend the meeting.
In his reaction, BJD spokesperson Amar Prasad Satpathy said he has no information about the CBI which, according to the BJP leader, is acting as per the suggestions of the State Crime Branch.
“In my opinion no one should give such statement on the investigation process which will affect the investigation. The Crime Branch and the CBI are probing into the chit fund scam. In this context, the statement of Mahapatra that the CBI is being monitored by the Crime Branch is not acceptable. Rather we should hope that the CBI in course of its investigation will arrest and punish the guilty and the duped investors will get justice,” he observed.
Asked whether he feels that the CBI is properly investigating into the chit fund scam, Satpathy said since the CBI investigation is underway, the state government does not want to hinder the investigation process. We should hope that there will be impartial and open investigation.
Referring to the charges of the BJP that the investigation is being monitored through a grand alliance among the criminals, state government and the CBI, Satpathy said should the state government now ask the Interpol to take up the investigation? “One should patiently wait for the outcome of the CBI investigation so that the guilty would be taken to task and the duped investors would get their justice,” he pointed out.
