Oppn tightens chit fund noose around Odisha Minister

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Apr 8:

There seems to be no end to troubles for Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Das Burma.

Even though the heat in the political circles here following CBI summons to the Minister to submit documents pertaining to the Mitsubishi Pajero and all other vehicles owned by him or his family members is yet to die down, the opposition Congress and BJP today fired another salvo at him alleging that he had invested money earned from chit fund firms in five companies owned by his kin.

“Sanjay has invested funds in five companies- Nilachal Granite Pvt Ltd, Nilachal Mining Pvt Ltd, Team India & Hospitality Pvt Ltd, Nilachal Builders Pvt Ltd and Technosign Info Solution Pvt Ltd. The registered office address of all these companies is L-3/2 Labour Colony Kharavel Nagar, Unit-III Bhubaneswar. Satyaprakash Jaisingh, Suryaprakash Jaisingh, Bhimsen Jaisingh, Ramkrishna Das (Sanjay Das Burma’s father) and Sailabala Das Burma (wife of Sanjay Das Burma) are directors in these companies. We demand the CBI to take these companies into the purview of its investigations apart from the two Pajero vehicles which it already is doing. The Minister has formed these companies out of money he has taken from chit fund companies which swindled poor depositors of their hard earned money,” said Samir Mohanty, vice president BJP Odisha unit at a press conference here today.

“We had earlier informed the CBI on this account. Let’s see what the CBI is doing. If required we will again meet the agency demand a probe. Since Chief Minister has been always claiming of clean and transparent governance he should take action against Sanjay. Moreover, it’s necessary that Sanjay should step down from his Ministerial post on moral grounds since he has come under the CBI’s scanner,” he added.

“All these companies are in the names of kin of a minister who is facing a probe by the CBI. In 2006, the concerned minister’s annual income was Rs 4, 19,272 and his wife’s income was Rs 5, 4,278. Both own shares in Team India & Hospitality Pvt Ltd. Both had quit from the board of directors of the company in 2006 for legal issues. What is the quantum of their income now? Out 21 companies allegations have been raised against five. Who were the proprietors of these companies? Who are the proprietors of these now? What is the annual income of these companies? Very soon I will expose the other 16 companies. What was their income then? What is their income now? He should disclose who owns these companies. Who is Jaisingh? Ownership of these companies has been transferred to his name,” stated Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra senior Congress leader briefing reporters here today.

On the other hand, the BJD has blamed the BJP and the Congress of attempting to malign the BJD by bringing such allegations.

“Both BJP and Congress have joined hands to malign the BJD by bringing such allegations. Even though the CBI has completed its interrogation of Pradip Sethi in the AT Group case a year and a half back, what is the objective of raking up the issue now? Secondly, when charge sheet has been already filed in the AT Group case why it is being raked up again? The most surprising , the secret documents of the CBI are now in the hands of politicians. The Congress with the help of the BJP government at the Centre is trying to malign us here with a political motive,” said Pratap Jena, spokesperson of BJD in his reaction to allegations against Das Burma.

Notably, the CBI has submitted the preliminary charge sheet in the AT Group chit fund scam.