Bijoy Mohapatra dubs chit fund scam probe an eyewash

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Apr 10:

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bijoy Mohapatra today launched a scathing attack on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the multi-thousand crore chit fund scam in Odisha, terming it as “an accused” while referring to the notice to Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Das Burma over ownership of a Mitsubishi Pajero vehicle.

The saffron party leader, in his inimitable style, said that the CBI’s approach and manner of the investigation involving Das Burma was rather aimed at protecting him instead. The central agency’s investigations in the last two years were not in accordance with the mandate issued to it by the Supreme Court for probing the multi-thousand crore chit fund scam in the state, he expressed.

Mohapatra further alleged that the lackadaisical manner in which the CBI was investigating the chit fund scam for the last two years was intended for giving protection to some influential persons.

He said the CBI could have interrogated Das Burma instead of merely serving him with a notice to submit documents.

The senior BJP leader also demanded the removal of the officers entrusted with the probe.

“In Sanjay Das Burma’s case, the notice served to him is aimed at providing him protection. CBI has failed in that. Instead of Sanjay Das Burma being the accused, CBI has become an accused. In the last two years, CBI has proceeded with its investigations in a lackadaisical manner in order to provide protection to some people. Interestingly, trusting the investigations done by the Crime Branch, the CBI submitted the same report with the court. The CBI is completely guilty. The way the CBI has handled its investigations, it has violated the direction/judgment of the Supreme Court. CBI is working to protect some persons which is very sad. Those in charge of the probe are responsible. They are criminals. Four IPS officers were interrogated by the CBI what has happened to them? Does the CBI have an answer? They were interrogated to hoodwink the public, nothing but eyewash. The CBI may today interrogate Sanjay Das Burma that will also be an eyewash. The CBI is not discharging its duties and responsibilities according to the mandate of the Supreme Court,” alleged Mohapatra at a press conference here.

Commenting on some people in the BJD being served notices by the CBI in connection with the chit fund scam, party MP Bhatruhari Mahtab said: “All I can say is that the CBI has some information. On the basis of which it has sent some notices to some people. It doesn’t require to be blown up to such extent.”