Multi-Crore Chit Fund Scams in Odisha

    WHICH POLITICIANS ARE AT GROUP BENEFICIARIES?

The multi-crore chit fund scams have created an atmosphere of suspicion in the State. Influential people beginning from Ministers, MLAs, officers and mediapersons, all are seen with suspicious eyes by the general public. And this suspicion gained ground after Artha Tatwa (AT) Group CMD Pradip Sethi publicly said that he had bribed politicians, including Minister and MLAs to carry on his chit fund business. Sethi also said he has already submitted evidence about it to the police.

The evidence reportedly includes both audio and videotapes containing conversations between Sethi and the beneficiaries of his largesse.

Sethi, who is presently under police custody, however, refused to reveal the names of those whom he bribed.

The suspicion is gradually snowballing into a major controversy with the police maintaining silence over the issue. The police neither confirm nor deny Sethi’s statement.

As the police are mum, the people are taking Sethi’s version as true. Since Sethi has not revealed the names other than that of Odisha Jan Morcha secretary general Jagneswar Babu, the suspicion needle now moves from one person to another.

Is not this person a beneficiary of the AT Group? This seems to be the common question asked in the State power corridors.

The question apparently hit the ears of Minister of Health & Family Welfare and BJD vice-president Damodar Rout, who told reporters that he would welcome a CBI probe if accusing fingers are raised at him.

The topic is so much discussed in the bureaucratic, political and media circles that “Everybody is suspecting everybody,” said a senior BJD MLA, who wanted to know the names of the Sethi’s beneficiaries.

This suspicion seems to be affecting the ruling BJD more than any other political party. The police should, therefore, come out with a statement to remove the cloud of suspicion, said the MLA. Source: The Pioneer