The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the State Crime Branch (CB) on Sunday arrested managing director of chit fund company Vista Management Services limited for duping investors in the State of Rs 50 crore.
The accused was identified as Deb Kumar Panda, who hails from Kalahandi district. EOW SP Rajendra Patnaik said Panda was arrested from the Bhubaneswar railway station while he was leaving for Visakhapatnam by an Express train to catch a Singapore flight. After arresting Panda, the SP said, the EOW seized his passport, visa, air ticket and hotel booking receipt.
Patnaik said Panda was arrested on the basis of a complaint lodged by investors of western Odisha on April 23 this year. The accused would be forwarded to a designated court in Cuttack, he said. “We are verifying involvement of other persons in the case,” he added.
Official sources said Panda had started the ponzi firm in 2008-2009 by opening its corporate office at Cuttack Road in Bhubaneswar.
Meanwhile, leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Narasingha Mishra pointed finger at some political leaders for their alleged involvement with the chit fund company. He also demanded stringent action against the accused involved in the case.
Notably, Mishra at a Press meet held at Balangir on April 11 had brought allegation against a Minister from Kalahandi district and a former Minister from Balangir district (now an MP) on their involvement with the Vista Company.
In his reaction, Rajya Sabha BJD member AU Singh Deo congratulated the EOW for arresting the Vista MD and demanded stringent action against the persons involved in the scam.
Singh Deo denounced attempts what he alleged to politicise the issue. “Rather, steps should be taken to refund money to the investors,” he said.