Odisha Crime Branch writes to RoC for cancellation of Seashore licence

Seashore group has been allegedly involved in illegal money circulation scheme

To curb swindling of money by unscrupulous financial companies, the state crime branch has written to the Registrar of Companies (RoC) for cancellation of licences of the companies involved in deposit mobilisation illegally.

"We have written to RoC to cancel the licence of Seashore group, which was allegedly involved in illegal money circulation scheme," said Rajesh Kumar, DIG, state Crime Branch.

"Generally, we are writing to two authorities, RoC and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, as most of these companies are registered under them and we will follow this up with actions against the companies, big and small, in accordance with law," added Kumar.

The investigating agency has registered about 164 cases in the last few days against 79 non banking finance companies (NBFCs) in the state.

With rising number of duping cases, the state crime branch, of late, has launched a massive crackdown on the companies involved in chit fund and similar financial activities amid instances of large scale frauds.

It has conducted raids on NBFCs in Balasore, Bargarh, Kendrapara, Jharsuguda, Bolangir, Ganjam, Kalahandi, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Sundergarh, Sambalpur districts where the crime branch seized various documents, money receipts and computers besides detaining some employees of the companies.

The raids were conducted at different branches of Saradha group, AT group, Sai Pragati, Ashore Group, Prayag, Rose Valley, Sahara India, Kolkata Weir Industries, Basil International, Samridh Jeevan, Green Ray, Swarna Bhumi, Abhas India, Royal Vision etc.

Crime branch decision of writing to RoC for cancellation of licences comes a day after the Commissionerate police arrested the scam tainted Artha Tatwa (AT) group chief, Pradip Sethi for duping investors. Sethi was sent to 14 days judicial custody after being produced in the court.

"We will ensure these companies don't get chance in future to indulge in similar activity," said Kumar.