Who are the Ministers, MlAs or other top leaders who helped Artha Tatwa Group chief Pradip Sethi’s illegal activitiesIJ The question is doing rounds in both bureaucratic and political circles here after Sethi opened his mouth about getting help of political bigwigs.
After his arrest on the charge of duping innocent investors in the State, Sethi stated that his illegal empire got a boost from certain political leaders including Ministers, MlAs and other top politicians and even senior officers.
This is not all; Sethi has also claimed that he had financial transactions with such leaders who too have taken cars and other luxury items and cash from him.
Sethi’s startling revelations are likely to snowball into a major political issue in the State as there is no doubt that the political leaders in question belong to the ruling BJD.
Sethi is yet to reveal who are the politicians who helped in his tainted business. He has taken the name of OJM leader Jagneswar Babu, an erstwhile BJD man, who is now in jail on the charge of financial irregularities in a cooperative bank.
If Sethi’s statement is correct then there should be no doubt that at least one BJD Minister was hand in gloves with his illegal activities. Similarly, the names of certain politicians were also raised when the Saradha Group chief reportedly told about his political links in different States, including Odisha.
This is high time for Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik to identify the black sheep in his herd and send him to the jail, said a
ruling party leader. As the things are getting worse by the day, any further delay in this regard would affect the electoral prospects of the BJD, he added.
The police should also investigate Sethi’s public statement and tell people whether his allegations have any basis, political observers point out. Sources said Director General of Police Prakash Mishra has asked the agency investigating into the chit fund scams to form a special team to unearth the truth behind Sethi’s statement.