The CBI is all set to raid soon the houses of a number of political leaders and other high-profile persons in connection with the chit fund scam in the State.
According to reliable sources, the list of names and the blueprint for the raids have been prepared during the visit of Special Investigation Team (SIT) Head and CBI Joint Director Rajeev Singh here on Saturday.
This has been done on the basis of the information available from the seized documents, tip-offs from outside sources and interrogation of the accused persons.
The sources said CBI officials have gathered conclusive evidence on the involvement of political leaders, journalists, builders, mines owners, hoteliers, Ollywood and Odia album producers during their interrogation of the Artha Tatwa (AT) Group’s CMD Pradip Sethy, directors Sambit Khuntia and Jyoti Prakash Jaiprakash and accountant Srikrushna Padhi.
Besides, the CBI officials have also collected vital information during a raid on the house of a stock broker in Mumbai who had assisted the AT Group chief in obtaining a licence to invest money in the stock market, the sources added.
At least three Odisha Ministers, two MlAs, two former Ministers and their sons are now under the CBI scanner for their involvement in chit fund business. Some senior State officials, media house owners and journalists have also come under the shadow of suspicion.
After conducting the planned raids on the shortlisted individuals, the CBI would most likely request the designated court not to allow these persons to leave the State until its investigation is completed, the sources said, adding that Rajeev Singh during his stay in Bhubaneswar finalised the strategies and the blueprint for further raids on certain high-profile people as well as more chit fund companies.