Even as the recording of the statements of the investors of Saradha Realty was yet to be completed, a team of the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the State Crime Branch as part of the preliminary investigation on Friday raided the office of the chit fund company which is stated to be closed since three weeks ago.
The team after making requisition of the local police and tehsildar broke open the locks of the shutter of the office at the second floor of a market complex located near the Fakir Mohan Circle. The police sealed the floor and prevented entry of any outsiders.
While the EOW is tightlipped about the raid, Tehsildar Pinaki Patnaik said he was present as a witness to the braking of the locks in the capacity of a magistrate.
“I don’t know anything about the EOW investigation and I was present as a witness,” he said.
Patnaik informed, “During its raid, the team found around eight computers and some documents. They may salvage information and data stored in the computers which may help them know the company’s operations and investment etc.” He did not know how long the raids would continue, he added.
Amidst flooding of complaints against the chit fund company, the EOW began recording statements of the investors and seizing original documents including bonds issued by the company. On Thursday, as many as about 200 complaints were received.
Apart from the investors of remote pockets of Baleswar district, the agents and agents-cum-investors from Bhadrak, Baripada and Cuttack also lodged complaints with the EOW that they were duped by the company’s false promise and through attractive investment schemes.
They alleged that company has swindled around Rs 50 crore through its Baleswar branch itself.