In another major blow to the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the party’s Baleswar MP Rabindra Kumar Jena appeared before the CBI here for questioning in connection with the massive chit fund scam in the State. Jena went to the CBI office at about 7.50 pm and had already been questioned for half an hour at the time of this reporting.
Though it is not clear what he is being interrogated about, sources said he is being questioned about his alleged links with the Seashore Group of companies. Jena is the second BJD MP to be questioned by the CBI in the chit fund scam. Earlier, BJD Mayurbhanj MP Ramchandra Hansda has been arrested by the CBI after several rounds of interrogation on his links with the Nabadiganta Financial Services, a chit fund company.
Jena, who earlier was the Managing Director of Balasore Alloys, later, before joining politics and contesting the last elections, floated the Supratik Group of companies which deals in several businesses including venture capital and real estate. In his reaction, BJD spokesperson Samir Dash said one has to wait a little to find out why Jena had been summoned by the CBI before commenting on the development. Dash, however, hastened to reiterate the routine BJD stand that it had nothing do with what individuals do in such cases. Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik has made it clear that the party is not responsible for those who indulge in wrongdoings, he said.