Chit fund scam: CBI gets 6-day remand of BJD MP, ex-MLAs

A court here Wednesday granted the CBI six-day remand of the suspended BJD MP Ramchandra Hansdah and two former legislators, arrested Tuesday for their alleged involvement in a chit fund scam in Odisha.

The special chief judicial magistrate (CJM) court sent the suspended BJD MP Hansdah, and former legislators Subarna Naik of the BJD and Hitesh Bagartti of the BJP to six days in CBI custody, said an official.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had sought 10-day remand of the three politicians, arrested on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and diversion of funds, and for their alleged links with chit fund firm Naba Diganta Capital Services.

The three politicians were directors in the company, which allegedly duped the depositors in the state of crores of rupees.

However, Hansdah said it was the political conspiracy that led to his arrest.

"The CBI is doing this to get cheap popularity. It was a bigger political conspiracy to malign me and my party," said the Lok Sabha member from Mayurbhanj to media persons while being taken to court.

Former BJP legislator Bagartti also pleaded innocence in the chit fund scam.

"I have nothing to do with the chit fund scam. Everything will be clear once the investigation process is over," he told the media persons.

The BJP countered Hansdah by stating that the CBI is doing its job to unearth the chit fund scam.

"The CBI is not here to contest elections. So, why will it hatch political conspiracy? The investigating agency is doing its job impartially," said senior BJP leader Suresh Pujari.

Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Narasingh Mishra said the accused person always tries to pass the blame on others. He demanded the inquiry process be expedited and those involved in the scam be nabbed quickly.

Before the three arrested leaders were presented before court, a team of doctors from the Capital Hospital conducted a health check-up on them.

The doctors also conducted medical check-up of suspended BJD legislator Pravat Tripathy, who is in CBI remand for his alleged link with Artha Tatwa Group, a chit fund company in the state.