Sooner than expected, the Naveen Patnaik establishment came under the CBI scanner on Saturday when a very close aide of the Chief Minister and BJD president was summoned to the Central investigating agency’s office here and interrogated in connection with the mega chit fund scam in the State.
Saroj Kumar Sahu, who mainly works at Patnaik’s residence, Naveen Nivas, was quizzed by CBI officials for about one and a half hours. After emerging from the CBI office, he told waiting mediapersons that he replied to the queries of the investigating officials and added that he is in no way involved in the chit fund scam,“I have answered whatever questions were put to me by the CBI. I cannot tell you what they asked me about,” said Sahu.
Earlier while going into the CBI office, Sahu had said he had no idea why the CBI had called him. “I don’t know why I have been called by the CBI. I have come here after receiving a phone call from the CBI,” he had said. Source said Sahu was summoned and interrogated about the Seashore Group of Companies on the basis of certain information obtained during the grilling of broker Subhankar Nayak, who was arrested by the Central agency on November 18 in connection with the ponzi scheme scandal.Sahu also sometimes works from the BJD State party office at Unit VI. His signature figures in statements and Press releases issued by the BJD,
The bombshell development, which was a major blow to Patnaik’s image, had its expected echo in the ongoing Assembly session with Opposition members sharpening their attack on the Chief Minister, whom they have been accusing of having promoted the fraudulent ponzi firms, particularly the Seashore Group, and whose resignation they have been demanding in the wake of arrest of and interrogation to several BJD leaders, including a lok Sabha member and two MlAs.
Earlier in the day, RK Nanda, a marketing manager of the Artha Tatwa (AT) Group of companies, appeared before the CBI for questioning. He used to look after the events and advertising business of the company, sources said.