ED quizzes Odia actor Sritam Das over chit fund links

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday interrogated Odia film actor-cum-director Sritam Das for his alleged links with chit fund scam in Odisha.

He was quizzed over his alleged links with chief of Star Consultancy chit fund firm Triveni Mohanty, who used chit fund money for his Odia films.

The Das-directed Odia movie "Tu Tha Mun Jauchi Rushi" (2010), was produced by Mohanty, who had allegedly invested the money of chit fund investors in the movie.

However, Das said that he was unaware of the fact that chit fund money was used in his movie.

"The ED asked me about the source of money invested in the film. I was not aware of chit fund money used in the movie. If it is established, I will return the money," he told reporters here.

Till now, ED has attached total properties worth Rs 83 lakh of the chit fund company.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to suspended Biju Janata Dal MP Ramchandra Hansda, who was lodged in jail since over three years in connection with Nabadiganta chit fund scam.

The Mayurbhanj MP, one of the directors of Nabadiganta Capital Services, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in November 2014.

The state's ruling BJD had suspended Hansda from the party after his arrest.

--IANS

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