Sethy, accountant taken on remand by CBI for three more days
The attempt of the police to shield top political leaders, bureaucrats, police officers, journalists and other influential persons involved in the mega chit fund scam has come to light after the latest deposition by the AT Group chief Pradip Sethy before the CBI.
Meanwhile on Wednesday, Sethy and his company accountant Srikrushna Padhi were taken on remand by the CBI for three more days as per the court decision following the CBI’s request.
Sethy, during his interrogation on Tuesday, reportedly told the CBI that the Commissionerate Police had pressurised him to give a second statement without naming any political leaders and other influential persons, a document which was submitted in the court.
He said he had provided the names of political leaders and other influential persons and details of the money and gifts they had taken from his company in his first statement, but that was suppressed by the police.
Sethy also gave the details of the police officers who had pressured him to change his statement to ensure that the names of political leaders did not get linked with the scam.
Sources said that the CBI, on the basis of the interrogation, would grill some top cops and officers of the police stations who were investigating the case.
With the remand period of Sethy ending on Wednesday, the CBI has decided to move court to extend the remand by another 10 days as its investigation into the other activities of the company is yet to begin.
The CBI, meanwhile, has reportedly found conclusive evidence on the close link between Sethy and a BJD Minister of Ganjam district, a BJD youth leader of Puri district, a senior BJD Minister of undivided Cuttack district and a former Minister of undivided Koraput district.
The investigation has revealed that the AT Group had not only collected money from people through the chit fund but also had collected huge amounts from them by promising them residential plots and flats. Out of the total money received from the depositors, the company had invested around `300 crore in real estate business.
Several realtors, most of whom have either closed down their business or have become bankrupt, had taken money from the AT Group for purchase of lands and construction of apartments. Though the police were aware of this, they had not taken any action against the builders. Besides, the police had also not taken any step to confiscate the other properties of the AT Group.