Following the Supreme Court’s order to investigate into the multi-crore chit fund scam in Odisha, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is striding assertively on the path where the State Crime Branch police feared to tread earlier. That is to find out links, if any, between the tainted chit fund companies and ruling BJD leaders.
After raiding the houses of Banki BJD MlA Pravat Tripathy on Saturday last in connection with his alleged links with the Artha Tatwa Group of Companies, a four-member team of the Central agency on Monday raided the house of the MlA’s man Subash Padhy at Banki. The team swooped on Padhy’s Sahadapada residence, about 30 km from here, in early morning when Padhy was inside.
Reports said that after laying their hands on some incriminating documents from the house of Padhy, the CBI sleuths grilled him for hours. later speaking to the media, Padhy said the CBI raid in his house was the outcome of a political vendetta.
“For my close links with MlA Pravat Tripathy, the CBI sleuths raided my house,” Padhy said, adding that he had no links with the AT Group or its arrested CMD Pradeep Sethy.
Known to be the right hand of Tripathy, Padhy enjoys a lot of clout in the locality and is now a member of the BJD State Working Committee. Initially starting his career as a local reporter for a vernacular daily published from Cuttack, Padhy’s fortunes multiplied after he plunged into politics. Elected as a councillor to the Banki NAC, Padhy made a fortune as a contractor and a timber trader.
Advocating for Padhy, MlA Tripathy said, “Subash Padhy is a small time farmer and is remotely connected with any chit fund company. The CBI raid in his house would serve no purpose.”
Similarly, a three-member team of the CBI conducted raid on the parental houses of Odisha Jana Morcha (OJM) leader Jagneswar Babu in Balangir on Monday in connection with the multi-crore chit fund scam.
After searching the residence of Babu in Balangir town, the CBI team accompanied by Babu left for his ancestral home in Kurturla, 20 km away from district headquarters town, to carry out a raid for more information.
“I welcome CBI inquiry into AT Group’s misdeed,” said Babu, adding, “But the sleuths didn’t get any related documents from my houses,”
said Babu.