CBI Bhubaneswar SP Rajiv Ranjan on Friday met State Director General of Police (DGP) KB Singh at the latter’s camp office here at the Commissionerate police headquarters.
The CBI SP’s meeting with the DGP came in the backdrop of the Central probe agency raiding houses of BJD leaders, including an MlA, MP and also a close associate of BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, in connection with the multi-crore Seashore Group chit fund scam.
However, after the meeting, both the DGP and the CBI SP commented that it was just a courtesy meeting.
“As a junior IPS officer, I had come to greet a senior IPS officer. I did not discuss anything (about chit fund) with the DGP. It was only a New Year courtesy visit to the DGP,” said Rajiv Ranjan.
When asked about the protest held by members of student and youth wings of the BJD in front of the CBI office on Thursday, Ranjan replied, “There was no law and order problem at all. The demonstration was a general type of protest, and we had nothing to do with that.”
He emphatically stated, “We are not under any kind of pressure (relating to the investigation into the chit fund scam).”
The DGP said, “He (the CBI SP) came with a flower bouquet and wished me for the New Year. We had also a cup of tea each.”
Sources, however, said the CBI SP called on the DGP to apprise him about the raids conducted on Thursday on the ruling party leaders.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra questioned the integrity of the CBI in carrying out belated raids on BJD leaders.
“Why didn’t you conduct raid on them two to three years ago when they were interrogatedIJ Why are you conducting raids nowIJ The delay in investigation will result in destruction of evidence,” said Mohapatra.
He charged that CBI is not investigating the chit fund scam in Odisha properly.
On Thursday, the CBI raided the houses of Baleswar BJD MP Rabindra Kumar Jena, Choudwar-Cuttack MlA Pravat Ranjan Biswal and the Chief Minister’s close aide Saroj Sahoo in connection with the Seashore chit fund scam.