The CBI, which is investigating into the mega chit fund scam in Odisha, began interrogating Mayurbhanj BJD MP Ram Chandra Hansda at the investigating agency’s office here on Friday.
It may be mentioned that the CBI, in course of its investigation, had found Hansda’s alleged involvement in the operations of Nabadiganta Capital Services, one of the 44 chit fund companies being probed by the CBI on the directions of the Supreme Court.
The agency later raided his house at Baripada on July 31 and seized cash of Rs 28 lakh.
Emerging after a four-hour long grilling by the CBI on Friday, Hansda claimed that the cash of Rs 28 lakh seized by the CBI during a raid on his Baripada residence on July 31 was his “own money”.
He, however, refused to divulge details of the questioning, saying the matter is sub-judice.
Soon after the raid, Hansda had told the media that his association with the Nabadiganta Capital Service began when one of the company officials approached him and persuaded him to have an insurance policy in 2011. “As the company had given me an impression that it would work for the welfare of the youth by providing them with jobs, I had no reason to suspect its intent at that point in time,” he had said.
Hansda had also said as a matter of policy, he and five others had separately bought eight per cent share in the company and the rest 52 per cent shares remained with the original owner of Nabadiganta. He had claimed that it was decided that they would all adhere to the non-banking finance rules, he added.
Admitting that he had given Rs 7 lakh to the company when it was passing through difficult times, Hansda said he had got Rs 7 lakh from the State Assembly as an MlA towards arrears. He had said he suspected foul play by the company when it repaid him Rs 1 lakh and did not return the rest of the amount.
“Despite my repeated requests the company did not return my money. In November 2012, I resigned from the company, but the company accepted it only in May 2013. I had not pressed for the acceptance of my resignation only because I was hoping to get my money back,” Hansda had stated.