Raising concern over the “mysterious” slowdown of the CBI investigation into the mega chit fund scam in the State, as many as 29 civil society organisations staged a demonstration in front of the CBI office here and submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the CBI SP appealing to him to ensure a speedy and impartial probe.
“The public suspicion is growing day by day that the CBI has been pressurised to stop investigation at the instance of the Prime Minister for narrow political agenda. Though there is authentic proof against judges, top bureaucrats and many political leaders, even against the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, for patronising chit fund companies the CBI is yet to take any visible action against them,” alleged Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan convenor Pradip Pradhan.
Pradhan said initially the CBI was doing well and arrested powerful persons, including a ruling BJD MlA, an MP, media owners and other influential persons.“Much hope was created among people when a CBI team interrogated Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s close aide Saroj Sahu. But since then, the investigation has slowed down,” said Pradhan.
Pradhan said while arresting Subhankar Naik, a key chit fund dalal, the CBI had exposed how top IAS and IPS officers are involved in the scam by interrogating a number of IPS officers. By examining the dairy of the Subhankar, the CBI also learnt the involvement of top bureaucrats, including PMO Joint Secretary Anu Garg and Chief Minister’s Secretary V Karthikaya Pandian’s involvement in the scam, Pradhan alleged.
“It is felt that there is an unholy alliance and secret agreement between the State’s BJD Government and BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre to derail and dilute the CBI investigation,” said another protester.
The agitators urged the Prime Minister not to make the premier Central investigating agency a political stooge in his hand.