CBI arrests Odisha MLA Pravat Biswal in chit fund scam

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Sep 19, 2017 at 8:59 AM Updated On : Sep 20, 2017 at 9:43 AM

Pravat Biswal facing questions from the media after a five-hour long grilling by the CBI last year in connection with another land deal. His wife Laxmi Bilasini can be seen in the background (OST File Pic)

Cuttack: The spectre of multi-thousand core chit fund scam is back to haunt Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested one of its legislator in the wee hours today.

The central investigating agency officials arrested Cuttack-Choudwar MLA Pravat Biswal from his Mahanadi Vihar residence at around 2am today over his alleged involvement in Seashore Group scam.

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The ruling party sought to distance itself from the controversy that is all set to put the government on a sticky wicket.

“It is not going to affect the party as party has nothing to do with the scam. Whosoever has done anything wrong will have to face the law of the land. No one is above law. The law will take its own course,” senior BJD leader Damodar Rout said.

Worth mentioning, Pravat Biswal and his wife Laxmi Bilasini Biswal were under CBI scanner over a land deal with the dubious firm.

“Centre is using CBI for political gains. This is vindictive politics. Centre used CBI against Mamata Banerjee, Lalu Prasad Yadav and even media promoter Pranoy Roy. How long the chit fund scam investigation will go on? It’s over five years now. The union government’s ulterior motives have been exposed. People will give them a fitting reply,” Subash Singh, BJD leader said.

On November 21 2014, the sleuths had grilled Biswal and his wife at their regional office in Bhubaneswar for hours.E

Earlier this year in January, CBI had conducted simultaneous raids at Biswal’s residences in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack giving rise speculation to his arrest.

Also Read: Pravat Biswal, wife grilled by CBI for five hours

The MLA was under scanner over a land measuring 34 Guntha at Benapur mouza in Jajpur. Seashore CMD Prashant Dash had paid Rs 25 lakh for the land in cheques in April 2012, the rest amount was to be paid after registration. However, Dash had cancelled the deal later and wanted his money back, sources said.

Chit fund