Patnaik should reply on chit fund scam immediately: Cong

Opposition Congress in Odisha today asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to react immediately in order to exonerate himself from the alleged chit fund scam.
"We have been demanding the Chief Minister's statement and stalling Assembly for the last few days over the chit fund scam. But, the government remains mum. Let them react before it is too late," Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said in the Assembly, which saw disruption over the issue.
Mishra said this as Congress and BJP members stalled the House since four days demanding removal of retired justice M M Das from the judicial commission probing into the chit fund scam and resignation of minister Sanjay Dasburma.

"The government does not want to take action against Justice Das as it finds an escape route from the scam through the judicial commission," the Congress leader alleged.
Seeking clarification from the Chief Minister, Mishra wanted to know who operates a bank account at SBI's main branch, Bhubaneswar.
"In which way you and BJD are associated with the said bank account? Who operates this bank account? Are you (CM) aware of this account?," Mishra asked Patnaik.

"These two persons have deposited lakhs of rupees in the said SBI account. How Rs eight crore was deposited in this account in one day and the bank account which sent the money had been closed after just one transaction?" he said.

Mishra said he wanted clarification from the Chief Minister as suspicion was growing against him.
"I want an answer from the Chief Minister who alone can exonerate himself from the suspicion," the Congress leader said alleging the government has found an escape route through the judicial commission headed by Justice (retd) M M Das.
Though the commission's term of reference mandated it to probe into involvement of any influential personnel in the chit fund scam, Justice Das has not yet investigated into it. Justice Das has so far kept himself busy in identification of investors, Mishra said.
"Justice Das has not sought affidavits from the public who could have given evidence regarding involvement of influential persons including bureaucrats, politicians in the scam," he said.

Meanwhile, former minister and ruling BJD spokesman Pratap Jena challenged the Leader of Opposition and dubbed his statement in the House as "baseless" and "unfortunate."
"Will the Leader of Opposition quit politics if he fails to prove the allegations? He should give evidence if any to the CBI, which has been probing the scam," Jena said describing Mishra's statement as "politically motivated."
Earlier, Speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned the House till 3 PM as opposition members came to the Well of the House and shouted slogans demanding removal of chit fund scam inquiry commission head Justice MM Das and Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare minister Sanjay Das Burma.