Odisha chit fund scam: CBI team investigates Seashore fraud in Puri

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Puri, Dec 5:

Based on the complaint lodged by a local investor, a three member team of CBI led by SP Rajiv Ranjan and DSP Sk Alli today reached Puri to investigate the alleged irregularities by Seashore Group of companies.

The team checked various papers submitted by the complainant named Jugal Kishore Behera and others at the Town Police Station.

“There are numbers of complaints against the company throughout Odisha. CBI today is investigating the overall operations of the company in Puri. About 10 duped investors are here to get their statements recorded. Besides, the team will investigate into the overall business of the company and the number of investors duped here,” said an official of Town Police Station.

As per sources, Behera- a resident of Railway colony of Puri, had deposited Rs 15 lakh with the chit fund company. He had been assured of a high return after the date of maturity. However, even though he completed the formalities to receive the assured return following the maturity date, the company never replied back to his letter or paid him back prompting him to lodge a complaint with the local police.

“Seashore had rented our house and was running its branch here. They lured us into investing in their company by promising high returns. They did pay us for about two years and then it stopped. We have lost five lakh rupees in this scam. Today we spoke to the CBI officers and got our statements recorded,” said another investor Kalpana Sahu.

As per the chargesheet filed by CBI at the special CBI court on March 7, Seashore CMD Prashant Dash and his brother Prabhat have embezzled about Rs 578.2 crore, collected from investors between 2006 and 2011.