The Special CBI Court on Thursday rejected the bail plea of Banki BJD MlA Pravat Tripathy, who was arrested by the CBI on October 31 in connection with the chit fund scam, and sent him to judicial custody till November 26.
During the court hearing, Tripathy's counsel Omprakash Ray cited different reasons for giving bail to the BJD leader. He cited grounds like the forthcoming Assembly session from November 20, his poor health condition in the wake of a hip replacement surgery that he underwent recently and the absence of any evidence other than the audio CD produced in the court.
On the other hand, CBI counsel Kali Charan Mishra argued against bail to Tripathy, saying he could tamper with evidence and influence witnesses if released on bail. The court also rejected the bail pleas of two builders, Vineet lalani and Dilip Mohanty, who have been arrested by the CBI for their alleged links with the chit fund scam, and sent them to judicial custody till November 26.
The court also rejected two bail petitions moved on behalf of Ranjan Dash, a founding member of the AT group, who later formed his own company, Swastik India. Earlier in the day, the Khordha District and Sessions Court had rejected the bail petitions of Mumbai model and television serial producer Preeti Bhatia, who was arrested by the CBI for her link with AT group CMD Pradeep Sethy.
A total of 26 accused persons were produced in the two courts on Thursday, making it one of the biggest parades of accused in the chit fund scam in the court premises here. Meanwhile, a large number of supporters of Pravat Tripathy staged a demonstration at the MlA's official residence in the day and demanded immediate revocation of his suspension from the BJD.
Holding placards and raising slogans against the CBI's action and Chief Minister and BJD supremo' Patnaik's suspension decision, the party workers urged Patnaik to reconsider his action.