Alok Jena, on whose petition the Supreme Court directed the ongoing CBI probe into the mega chit fund scam in Odisha, on Friday appealed to the apex court for monitoring the investigation. Jena prayed to the court to seek a specific report from the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the progress of the probe, adequacy or inadequacy of personnel, infrastructure and extent of cooperation from various authorities, including the State Government.

The petitioner in his petition contended that the CBI probe is tardy and not satisfactory in comparison to the chit fund investigation in West Bengal. The CBI has engaged only five officers in Odisha, he added. “There is an urgent need for further directions to the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate to ensure proper and effective investigation,” said Jena in his petition.

Jena stated that the CBI has so far seized 465 accounts and 70 lockers operated in the HDFC, Bhubaneswar branch. “There are thousands of such accounts and lockers in different banks and financial institutions which are required to be seized and opened so as to disgorge the amounts swindled from the poor people of Odisha,” he said, adding, “If the investigating agency delays the probe, the fraudsters may withdraw money and valuables from the lockers.”

Quoting media reports, Jena said the CBI wants nine BJD MlAs and MPs and Ministers to be handed over to it, but the Assembly Speaker is yet to give permission for it. Thus, Odisha Government has been trying every trick in the book to derail the investigation, he alleged.