Cuttack: Chairman of Oscar Group of Companies Pravas Rout and director Prabhat Patnaik were sent to Choudwar Circle Jail today by the order of the Special Chit Fund Court.
“The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the State Crime Branch produced Rout after the end of his second-phase remand. Patnaik, who was arrested from Langaleswar near Khallikote, was also produced in the court. But as the EOW did not apply for fresh remand, the court sent the duo to the Choudwar Circle Jail,” government prosecutor Nilambara Jena told media persons here.
He said the court directed the EOW to produce the duo along with three other staff of the company on June 28.
Meanwhile, a special team of Crime Branch, which has gone to Surat, has collected some vital information on the activities of the company.
Reports said the Crime Branch team, in association with the local police, has raided the head office of the company in Sayan city and seized some incriminating documents.
Sources said the Crime Branch will request the local magistrate to seal the office, which has remained closed since 2015.
Investigation has revealed that the company had opened 58 branch offices in Gujarat and collected over Rs 100 crore from the people, a majority of them Odias. Till date, Crime Branch has identified 19 properties in the name of Oscar Group of Companies in Gujarat.
EOW sources said Prabhat Patnaik, director of the company who was arrested today, was looking after the business of the company in Ganjam district. Patnaik, who had initially floated Oscar Management in the district and later formed Oscar Cooperative Society in 2007 in which he was the secretary. Through the Society, he had collected crores of rupees from the people.
On the other hand, the Crime Branch police has collected detailed information about the financial transactions of the Oscar Group of Companies during the second-phase remand of Rout. Sources in the Crime Branch said some known Ollywood actors and actresses are among those with whom the company was having financial transactions through its bank accounts.
Sources said the Crime Branch is likely interrogate a senior Ollywood actor, some actresses and a well-known comedian in this connection.