While buzz is that the CBI is sparing bigwigs allegedly involved in the chit fund scam, intellectuals and deceived depositors are of opinion that Cooperation Department mandarins, who had given the Best Youth Cooperator Award to Artha Tatwa CMD Pradeep Sethy ‘in haste’, should be brought into the investigation soon.It still haunts people that Sethy was conferred with the award when the cooperative body formed by him was only 15-day-old by then.
According to sources, Pradeep had submitted an application along with the memorandum for issue of an RC to form a multipurpose cooperative society. Within a few days, he was given the certificate.“Concerned officers didn’t find any time to go through the application. Even the application was not diarized properly. The department Minister had understandably directed officers to issue the certificate at the earliest,” alleged some depositors.
They demanded that the top investigating agency cease those files whict contains Pradeep’s application and RC issuance letters from the ARCS office here.“When a common man toils for years to receive an RC, how Sethy was offered this largess like a windfall. All officials’ norms, decency and decorum have been thrown into the winds,” they alleged.
They even doubt that neither the letter was diarized nor the file bore any date and signature.“The veracity of the contention can be established if the prime investigating agency requisitions the concerned files from the office of ARCS Bhubaneswar Circle without delay,” they demanded.It is also alleged that costly vehicles like Fortuners, Scorpios and Pajeros along with exorbitant bribes were allegedly offered to get favour of the Department.Some intellectuals wanted to know while criminals always leave behind some proofs, why the CBI is yet to call bigwigs for interrogation.
While the photograph of the Minister along with the imprisoned Sethy speaks louder than any proof or written submission, the then Minister has expressed his innocence while responding to some media queries. “The Minister should give an litmus test before the prime investigation agency of the country to prove his image as a responsible people’s leader of the State,” some depositors demanded.
