Top CBI official reviews Chitgate probe

Bhubaneswar: In her maiden trip to Odisha after taking charge of CBI’s eastern zone, agency’s joint director Sumanbala Sahoo today reviewed the progress of chit fund scam in the state.

Soon after her arrival in the morning, the official discussed the progress of ongoing probe into the multi-crore chit fund scam in the state with the investigating officials at the regional CBI office here.

Official sources said, the discussion centred around money trail and involvement of politicians and influential persons in the multi-crore scam.

Her visit to the state capital bore significance as she has been entrusted with the responsibility of the eastern zone of the apex investigating agency recently. Earlier, joint director of north-eastern region Rajeev Singh and DIG S Bagchi had visited and reviewed the status of the investigation in the State.

Meanwhile, Pramod Panda, the DSP who was arrested yesterday on charges of receiving undue financial benefits from chit fund company Artha Tatwa (AT) and being part of a larger conspiracy, was produced before the Special CBI Court today. The agency’s seven-day remand extension plea of Panda was reduced by two days by the court.

Similarly, Panda’s relative and one of the directors of AT group Jagabandhu Panda and its former managing director Durga Parasd were also presented in the court as their 9-day remand period ended today. The court allowed the agency to take Jagabandhu Panda on remand for five more days.