Alok Jena, on whose petition the Supreme Court has directed a CBI probe into the mega chit fund scam in the State, has asked the State Government as to why it takes so much time to suspend DSP Pramod Panda, who was arrested by the CBI in connection with the chit fund firm Artha Tatwa (AT) Group on December 19.
Jena said that a Government officer should be suspended within 48 hours of arrest, but why the Government is silent in the case of DSP Panda is a mystery. Sources said Panda had good relation with an ADG-rank officer of the Home Department. Panda was even taken on deputation to the State Crime Branch “for a purpose,” the sources added.It may be note that Panda is the only police officer who has been arrested by the CBI in the chit fund scam case so far.