Odisha chit fund scam: Biggies in trouble after AT Group officials spill the beans

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 31:

While CBI continues with its investigations and interrogations in the multi-thousand crore chit fund scam in Odisha to track the money trail,  the AT Group chief, Pradip Sethy, two directors of his company Jyotiprakash Jaiprakash and Sambit Khuntia and the company accountant, Shrikrushna Padhi have made startling disclosures during the interrogation.

Sources in the CBI said the AT Group paid for the pleasure trips of  certain  high profile persons in the state to exotic foreign locations. The company had reportedly taken care of their air fare, hotel accommodation, shopping and other expenses . The company had also gifted high-end luxury cars to some of them to get its illegal acts suppressed and protected, the sources added.

Sources said during the interrogation,  Pradip Sethy has revealed that he has spent nearly Rs 10 crore to bribe influential  politicians and others towards protection money.

Moreover, the directors of the ponzi firm have reportedly told interrogators that lakhs of rupees have been spent on requisitioning the services of expensive models from the glamour world in Kolkata and Mumbai.

Reports said Rajeev Singh, the joint director of the CBI and head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiring into the chit fund scam in West Bengal and Odisha,  who was here on Saturday to review progress of investigations,  has issued summons to some influential persons after examining strong evidence and information gathered against them.

Among them are miners, builders, star hoteliers, politicians and journalists.

Summons with dates and time for deposition before the Central agency have been dispatched to some, the reports said, adding,  most of the revealing information about the shady deals of the AT Group has been provided by its arrested director Sambit Khuntia.

According to reliable sources some of them have had clandestine meetings with certain CBI officials in their bid to wriggle out of any complications leading to loss of face.

Reports said the CBI has finalised its plans for raids against the other accused chit fund companies over the next few days.