The Special CBI Court on Monday granted an extension of the bail given to former Advocate General Asok Mohanty in connection with the case filed against him by the CBI in the chit fund scam. The court, however, asked Mohanty to appear before it on February 26. Mohanty appeared before the special CBI Court here after getting summons from it.
It may be recalled that the Khordha District and Sessions Court had allowed Mohanty to go on bail against a surety of Rs 1 lakh and two bailers on September 26 last. As per the procedure, Mohanty had to get the court’s permission for extension of his bail. It was the first appearance by Mohanty before the CBI court after the submission of the preliminary chargesheet against the AT Group by the CBI on December 11 last.
Mohanty has been accused of receiving illegal gratification from AT Group chief Pradeep Sethy in the shape of a house at CDA, Cuttack. Besides Mohanty, 18 others accused in the AT Group chit fund scam, including Banki MlA Pravat Tripathy, Mumbai model Preeti Bhatia and Pramod Panda, were also produced before the CBI court.
The court asked all the 18 accused, presently lodged in Jharpada jail, to appear on February 26. However, AT Group chief Pradip Sethy did not appear in the court as he has been taken on remand by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).