Chit fund scam: Odisha Minister submits vehicle papers to CBI

Admin   |   07 April, 2016   |   621   |   3980

Odisha's Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma today submitted all documents related to vehicles owned and used by him and his family before the CBI in connection with the chit fund scam.



Dasburma, through his representative Gouranga Sahoo, submitted the documents at the office of the CBI SP here in response to a notice issued in his name on April 4.



The minister was in Koraput for some urgent official work so he gave a forwarding letter to the CBI deputing Sahoo to submit papers on his behalf.



The minister came in the picture after senior Congressleader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra last month alleged that Dasburma had received a Pajero van from Pradip Sethi, the chief of Artha Tatwa Group, which is under the CBI scanner. Sethi was also arrested and put behind bars.



The notice sent by CBI Inspector G K Pradhan sought clarification from Dasburma including source of fund for purchase of vehicles including the Pajero van.



Dasburma was the first minister in Naveen Patnaik's Council of Ministers to get a notice from the CBI in connection with the chit fund scam while a BJD MP and a party MLA were arrested for their alleged link in the multi-crore scam.



While BJD MP from Mayurbhanj Ramchandra Hansda has been cooling his heels in the jail, party MLA from Banki Pravat Tripathy is out on bail.



The Artha Tatwa Group chief in his statement before the CBI had mentioned he had given vehicles to several people including Dasburma.



While the minister was not available for comments, PTI is in possession of his forwarding letter to the CBI and the notice served to him under section 91 of CrPC.