'Speeding CBI probe before panchayat polls not wrong'

Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram on Sunday said there was no problem in speeding up the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the chit fund scam before the panchayat elections in Odisha.

"What is the problem if CBI speeds up its probe into the chit fund scam before panchayat polls in the state," asked Oram.

The Union Minister was replying to reporters whether CBI has expedited the probe soon after the visit to Bhubaneswar of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah, who launched the panchayat polls campaign for the party on Friday.

Oram said the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is in a fix as the CBI would intensify its probe into the chit fund scam.

"Chit fund investigation is going on. The CBI will expedite the probe process. The probe will in no way be slowed down," said the minister.

Notably, CBI has summoned BJD MP Rabindra Kumar Jena and Laxmi Bilasini Biswal, wife of BJD MLA Prabhat Biswal, for their alleged links with chit fund firm Seashore Group of companies.

The ruling BJD said the CBI probe should be impartial and not politically motivated.

"If the CBI is doing it intentionally then it's not wise in part of the democracy. We have nothing to say if the summon is issued as part of a regular process. The (central) government should always act impartially. If it is doing it intentionally to harass the state governments then it's not wise," said senior BJD leader and Higher Education Minister Pradeep Panigrahi.

Congress leader Sarat Rout said the state and its depositors will suffer if CBI is used for a political motive.

He said Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi time and again to slow down the CBI probe into the chit fund scam.

--IANS

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