The CBI, which had taken BJD MlA Pravat Ranjan Biswal on a five-day remand, produced him in the Special CBI Court here on Friday, a day before the remand period concludesd.
Earlier on the day, the CBI had grilled the MlA on his alleged chit fund links with the Seashore Group. The sleuths also questioned the MlA about a woman, Rajlaxmi Jena, to whom more than Rs 9 lakh was given in form of 11 bank drafts.
However, Pravat Biswal’s brother Arta Biswal said to reporters that the MlA is a friend of Rajlaxmi’s husband, from whom he had borrowed money. Pravat Biswal returned the money to Rajlaxmi after her husband’s demise in instalments through bank drafts. His brother borrows money regularly from other people for his political activities. There was nothing fishy about it, he added.
Reports said two senior official of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the day held discussions with CBI officials.
This has led to speculations that the ED might also question Biswal about the money trail and who are the bigwigs who have taken money from the Seashore Group. However, ED Assistant Director Madhab Mishra said, “There were discussions about all chit fund companies.”