Govt wants final chit fund hearings in six months

The State Government on Wednesday asked Special Public Prosecutors to ensure the process for final hearing of the Crime Branch-probed chit fund cases pending in designated courts is held within six months from now.Chief Secretary GC Pati issued this direction while reviewing progress of major chit fund cases booked by the State Crime Branch under the Odisha Protection of the Interests of the Depositors Act at the State Secretariat here.

The prosecutors engaged for the cases in various districts were asked to decide the matters relating to inclusion of the additional parties in the cases as per the provisions of the law and place it before the designated courts. The Sub-Collectors were directed to finalise the offset price of the attached properties within seven days so that they can be put to auction immediately after due approval of the designated courts.

It was decided that attached properties would be put to public auction through the Central e-auction portal of the MSTC. The Economic Offences Wing has so far initiated investigation against 190 financial establishments. The Finance Department has issued interim attachment orders against 19 companies. A total number of 21 cases against these financial establishments have been put to prosecution and out of which attachment orders of two cases have been made absolute by designated courts. Among others, Additional Chief Secretary Finance R Balakrishnan, DGP Sanjeev Marik, law Secretary Bibhuprasad Routray, Crime Branch ADG BK Sharma, Finance Director Dr Tapan Kumar Pradhan and Police Commissioner RP Sharma were present.