Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Monday granted interim protection from arrest to BJD’s Balasore MP Rabindra Jena, who has been grilled by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over his alleged links with Seashore Group, a major player in the mega chit fund scam in the state.
The court said that no coercive action is to be taken against Jena until the next hearing, which is scheduled to be held after 3 weeks.
The MP had moved the High Court seeking anticipatory bail on January 13, a day after the Central investigating agency raided the parliamentarian’s residences in Balasore and Delhi. Later, a team from the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) conducted raids on the office of Jena in OT road and OM Pipe Manufacturing factory in the city.
Jena had earlier presented himself before the CBI on December 10 last year after being summoned and was questioned for around seven hours over his alleged links with the firm.
According to sources, Supratik Group of Companies headed by the Balasore MP had secured a loan of Rs. 18 crore from Seashore Group in 2010. He had repaid the lion’s share of the money, but still owed Rs. 1.86 crore, the sources said.