CBI chargesheets former Odisha MLA Prabhat Biswal in connection with Seashore chit fund scam

Bhubaneswar: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today chargesheeted former Choudwar-Cuttack BJD MLA Prabhat Ranjan Biswal and his wife Laxmi Bilasini Biswal in connection with much-debated Seashore chit fund scam, after nearly nine years of probe.

According to an official source, the Central probe agency filed the obligatory documents with CBI Court-1 in Bhubaneswar over alleged money laundering under Sections 420, 120(B), 409, 467, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The next date of hearing was fixed for November this year.

Former legislator Biswal is allegedly involved in a dubious land deal with a man accused of Rs 500 crore chit fund scam. He was under CBI scanner as a deal took place between his wife Laxmi Bilasini and key accused Seashore Group chief Prashant Dash over a piece of land at Benapur mouza in Jajpur district. Biswal was arrested on September 19, 2017, from his Cuttack residence.

It is pertinent to mention, CBI had grilled Biswal and his wife at its regional office in Bhubaneswar on November 21, 2014. Earlier in January, the CBI had conducted simultaneous raids at Biswal’s residences in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

Seashore chief had paid Rs 25 lakh for the land in cheques in April 2012. The money was returned to Dash in cash, the arrested leader had claimed. However, CBI was not convinced by the clarification of Biswal and said the money was extracted from the chit fund firm.