The Crime Branch and the Commissionerate Police have landed in a fresh controversy with the former allegedly suppressing information and the latter not attaching Artha Tatwa Group properties at BMC Panchadeep Market complex at Unit-IV Market and at BMC Bhawani Mall at Saheed Nagar here.
According to rights activist Jayanta Kumar Das, following a missive of the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), the Finance Department in its letter no FIN-PUIF-CASE-0001/2014 3626/F dated 07.02.2014 had intimated the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissioner of Police to take necessary action to attach the properties, two shop/office space with an area approximately 15,000 sqft at BMC Panchadeep Market complex in Unit-IV Market and one office space of 13,200 sqft in block no 32, second floor at BMC Bhawani Mall in Saheed Nagar acquired by AT Group chief Pradeep Sethy.
The AT chief has acquired both the properties at the cost of around Rs2 crore. But till now neither the Commissionerate Police nor the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI investigating the mega chit fund scam have able to trace the properties, said Das.
The rights activist alleged that though the EOW during investigation had found AT’s property at BMC Bhawani Mall and BMC Panchadeep Market complex it had intimated the Finance Department requesting it to attach the same after a year.
“The EOW of the CB headed by Bijay Kumar Sharma knew that AT group chief Pradeep Sethy has possessed properties at BMC Bhawani Mall and BMC Panchadeep Market complex but wrote the Finance Department for its attachment after a gap of 12 months which is dubious,” alleged Das.
He charged the Commissionerate Police for not attaching the properties despite the intimation of the Finance Department in this regard. He further alleged that taking the advantage of the delay in property attachment process, the two immovable properties were transferred in the name of Sagar Ray (one of directors of AT Group who has been lodged in Jharpara Jail in connection with the chit fund scam).
“Even Sagar Ray has mortgaged these properties at HDFC Bank and availed a loan Rs7 crore,” alleged Das. The rights activist informed that he has intimidated the Enforcement Directorate about the issue.