The Opposition Congress on Thursday created a ruckus in the Chhattisgarh Assembly demanding a discussion on the issue of the “fraud committed” by chit fund companies in the State.

Congress MLAs raised slogans against the government seeking a debate on the issue and also moved an adjournment motion notice. Amid pandemonium, Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal adjourned the proceedings for five minutes.

Raising the issue after Question Hour, Congress legislator and party chief Bhupesh Baghel and another senior party MLA Satyanarayan Sharma alleged that the government was trying to protect the chit fund companies, which had fled with the hard-earned money of common man.

Terming it as a “very serious” issue, Congress MLAs demanded to admit their adjournment motion notice on it.

One lakh investors

Leader of Opposition T. S. Singhdeo said, as per the information, at least one lakh investors had deposited their money in the chit fund companies, which later proved to be bogus.

“Suppose, at least Rs. 10,000 were invested by each investor, then the total embezzlement amount reaches to the tune of Rs. 10,000 crore, which is a huge sum. It is the biggest chit fund scam,” Mr. Singhdeo said demanding admission of their adjournment motion notice.

Congress members also sought to know whether the ruling BJP would take steps to return the money of investors on the lines of West Bengal and Odisha governments.

Countering the charges, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ajay Chandrakar, who also holds the additional charge of Home, said the matter has already been discussed on March 4.

“Enough discussion was held on that day over the issue. The opposition even would get ample time to put all these issue during the discussion on the demands of the concerned department,” the minister said.

New facts

However, interrupting him, Mr. Baghel said some new facts have surfaced regarding the fraud committed by chit fund companies and if the discussion would be allowed over it they will present it in the House.

However, the Speaker rejected Congress’ demands saying that the issue had already been discussed in the House.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, the Congress members started sloganeering against the State government demanding to discuss the issue in the House and return the money of common man.

Amid chaos, the Speaker adjourned the house for five minutes.

When the house reassembled, the Congress members reiterated their demand for a discussion on the issue.

Mr. Chandrakar said he had already informed the House that cases had been registered against 79 unauthorised financial institutions.

The action is being taken against the unauthorised financial institutions and the scope of investigation will be further widened, he said.

The minister also assured to recover peoples’ money from the bogus chit fund companies and then return it to the investors at any cost.

Amid heated exchange of words between treasury bench and the opposition, Mr. Singhdeo demanded a discussion on the issue under Section 139 of the Chhattisgarh Assembly rules (under which discussion on a matter of urgent public importance takes place).

Open to debate

Mr. Chandrakar further said the government is opened to any kind of debate on the issue without affecting the scheduled business of the House in the crucial budget session.

The Speaker later said the House may consider a discussion on the issue further keeping in view the availability of time.

On March 4, the Chhattisgarh government had informed the Assembly that chit fund companies in the State have duped more than 46,000 investors to the tune of over Rs. 343 crore in last four years.

A total of 159 offences had been registered against 79 unauthorised financial institutions, while 159 agents and 52 company officials/owners have been arrested in connection with the fraud during this period, the government had informed. - PTI

“At least one lakh investors had deposited their money in the chit fund companies which later proved to be bogus”