Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday said that his Government had taken “seriously” the multi-crore chit fund scam and particularly, the alleged nexus of political and other influential persons even as the opposition political parties continued their demand for a CBI inquiry in to the issue.
“Of course we are taking it seriously,” asserted Chief Minister Patnaik on being asked by newsmen whether he is serious to unearth the alleged involvement of political persons, including the ruling BJD Ministers, MlAs and other influential persons in the scam.
The Chief Minister, who returned here after a four-day Delhi visit, however, did not elaborate the kind of seriousness and on the demand by the Opposition Congress and BJP for a CBI probe and initiating action against Ministers and MlAs of ruling party and influential persons linked to the scam.
However, parrying the pointed questions by the media men, he said, “I think the Presidential assent to the Odisha Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishment Bill, 2011can help the Government take action against the fraudulent firms and give relief to the victims.
Earlier, the Chief Minister had written a letter to Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on May 20 last drawing his personal attention to expediting the Presidential nod to the bill so that the State Government can firmly and effectively deal with the frauds being perpetrated by unscrupulous financial establishments.
Besides, Patnaik, during the meeting of Chief Ministers on internal security on Thursday, had also drawn the attention of the Union Home Minister to expedite the Presidential assent.
Notably, the Odisha Protection of Interest of Depositors Bill passed by the State Assembly on December 17, 2011 is pending the Presidential assent since April, 2012. Meanwhile, the main Opposition Congress on Thursday launched a State wide stir against the State Government for inaction against the culprits in the chit scam and demanded CBI probe into it. The party had alleged that the involvement of the State Government in the scam and the patronage of the Chief Minister to the ponzi companies had been established during the investigation by the Crime Branch and demanded the Government to reveal the names of those involved in the scam.