Mammoth quizzing of franchise holders on cards
After interrogating Artha Tatwa (AT) Group chief Pradeep Sethy and Odia daily owner Bikash Swain over their alleged link in investing money in advertising agency ‘Theme Creatives’, the CBI on Tuesday quizzed the franchise holders of the Odisha Premier league (OPl), a cricket tournament of the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA), sponsored by the AT Group in 2011.
During raids and after interrogating Sethy, the CBI had got several incriminating documents and clues about the Group’s investment in the OPl extravaganza. Sources said the company had invested around Rs 1 crore in the tournament.
In its first phase, the Central agency interrogated members of the OCA about their link with the AT Group. The CBI then quizzed directors Bismay Kumar Mohapatra and Deba Prasad along with accountant of the Orisons Overseas Company which had purchased Puri Emperors team during the OPl auction in 2011.
The CBI also interrogated former AT Group director and OPl’s Bhubaneswar Jaguars team co-owner Sagar Ray along with Baleswar Baghas co-owner and former AT Group co-founder Ranjan Das in this regard.
The CBI would also grill Angul Tuskers team owner Bikash Swain, who is now in CBI remand, about his link with the AT Group. Sources said the CBI would interrogate more franchise owners about their link with the AT Group who had invested ill-got money in the OPl.
Notably, the OCA had mobilised Rs 3,71,50,444 from 10 teams as franchise bidding. The lG Infrastructure Pvt ltd was the highest bidder to get the Bhubaneswar team by putting Rs 54, 99,999. Kasdi Power and Steel purchased the Keonjhar team with Rs 49 lakh, while Panchanana Mohanty, Bapi Sarkhel, Orisons Overseas Pvt ltd and Sidharth Construction and Trading owned Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur, Puri and Cuttack teams respectively.
Infocity life Style had spent Rs 34 lakh to get the stake of Brahmapur team. Similarly, Angul, Baleswar, Rourkela teams were owned by Bikash Swain, SD India Infra Pvt ltd and Maa Banabihari Minerals respectively with Rs 27 lakh each.