CBI probe politically motivated, says BJD

The BJD Sunday said the CBI's probe into the multi-thousand-crore-rupee chit fund scam was politically motivated. The accusations came a day after a close aide of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was interrogated.

Saroj Sahu, the coordinator of the chief minister's programmes and political secretary of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), was quizzed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Saturday for his alleged involvement in the scam in Odisha.

"The inquiry of the investigating agency is not limited to the chit fund scam. It is now clear that the probe process of CBI is politically motivated. We can openly claim it is targeting BJD members and workers," said BJD spokesperson Pratap Dev.

Questioning the way of investigation, he raised doubt whether the aggrieved people would get their deposited money in time.

However, the opposition Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Naveen Patnaik cannot escape from the scam.

Senior Congress leader Prasad Harichandan said after interrogating Patnaik's personal secretary, it has now become a personal matter for the chief minister.

"The interrogation of Sahu is no more a personal affair. It shows that the chit fund scam flourished under the patronage of the ruling party and the leaders are involved in the scam," said BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma.

Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra has demanded resignation Patnaik's resignation over the issue.

"The CBI should conduct an inquiry into the chief minister's involvement in the chit fund scam. He should tender his resignation for being involved in the scam," Mishra told reporters here.

The CBI has already arrested a BJD parliamentarian and legislator, while several leaders were interrogated.