Commission submits interim report on Odisha chit fund scam

The Justice M.M. Das Commission of Inquiry, probing the multi-crore chit fund scam in Odisha, on Wednesday submitted an interim report to the state government.

Panel secretary Debraj Rout submitted the interim report in a sealed cover to state Home Secretary Asit Kumar Tripahty at the secretariat here.

"I can't disclose the report's contents. But, this is an interim report and it is based on small investors," said Rout.

The commission recommended the process to refund money to small depositors duped by chit fund companies in the state, informed sources said.

The probe panel prepared the interim report on the basis of 26,976 of the more than eight lakh affidavits filed with it, the sources added.

The Odisha government last year issued guidelines for the identification of genuine depositors so that some of their money could be returned.

The commission identified small investors with below Rs.10,000 deposits to return their money on priority basis.

The government formed the one-man commission on July 9, 2013, to probe the chit fund scam.

--IANS

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