Naveen has struck deal with CBI to save party men: Cong

Bhubaneswar: At a time when the ruling BJD is faced with a serious image crisis, the Congress party turned the heat on BJD supremo and chief minister Naveen Patnaik both inside and outside the Odisha Assembly on Wednesday. While it sought a reply from Patnaik on BJD’s bank account details in the Assembly, the party alleged that the CM has struck a deal with CBI to save his party men in the chit fund scam.

Addressing newsmen her today, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) chief Prasad Harichandan said, “Everybody knows that Saroj Sahu, who then was working as Office Secretary of the BJD and political programme coordinator to the CM was grilled by the CBI in connection with chit fund scam in 2014. But nobody knows what happened to the probe. Has the CM struck a deal with the investigating agency to strike out his (Sahu’s) name from the chit fund charge sheet?”

“Why is the CBI silent on Sahu though one and half year has passed?” he asked.

The OPCC chief alleged that the silence of Patnaik over the issue has surprised everybody. “Why is the CM silent in the matter? Does he have any answer?” Harichandan asked.

A similar chaotic scene was also observed inside the House, when Opposition parties went on to aim barbs at the ruling party over the chit fund scam that has rocked the state.

Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators created a ruckus in the House, seeking clarifications from Patnaik over the transfer of money to BJD's bank account, allegedly by a chit fund accused.

The pandemonium forced the Assembly Speaker to adjourn the House several times.

Amid the din, though Law Minister Arun Sahu tried to clarify that the BJD had received funds from the General Electoral Trust between the years 2000 and 2014, the reply could not satisfy them. They raised slogans against the chief minister and created a ruckus.

Leader of Opposition Mishra told media persons that he was ready to furnish all relevant documents to substantiate his allegation. He said if the chief minister appoints the Lokayukta, then he would submit the documents before him.

Mishra asked why the chief minister is afraid of making a statement in the House over the issue.