 "Chhattisgarh chit fund scams exceed Rs 343 cr")
Chit fund companies in Chhattisgarh duped investors to the tune of over Rs 343 crore over the last four years. State’s acting home minister Ajay Chandrakar today informed the Chhattisgarh legislative assembly that 159 offences had been registered against 79 unauthorised financial institutions.
The minister said 159 agents and 52 company officials/owners have been arrested in connection with the fraud.
"The companies had duped 46,092 people to the tune of Rs 343,02,59,305 in last four years," Chandrakar said. Of the 159 offences, the police had completed investigation in 105 cases and had filed charge-sheet in the court of law.
The investigation is pending in 54 cases and the police had closed three cases while one case was in process of closure, the minister said.
The minister said 159 agents and 52 company officials/owners have been arrested in connection with the fraud.
"The companies had duped 46,092 people to the tune of Rs 343,02,59,305 in last four years," Chandrakar said. Of the 159 offences, the police had completed investigation in 105 cases and had filed charge-sheet in the court of law.
The investigation is pending in 54 cases and the police had closed three cases while one case was in process of closure, the minister said.
The fraud committed by the chit fund companies in the state created uproar in the state assembly with opposition Congress grilling the Bharatiya Janata Party government on the issue. The Congress members charged that those sitting in high places in the government were also involved in the scam.
"Many chit fund companies were inaugurated by senior cabinet members including Chief Minister (Raman Singh)," senior Congress legislator and party’s state chief Bhupesh Baghel said. The presence of Chief Minister and Ministers in such programme (opening of chit fund company offices) had resulted in fraud of such a big intensity, he added.
Baghel said people saw the cabinet members in the programme and invested in the company that later fled with their hard-earned money.
Senior cabinet minister Rajesh Munat challenged Baghel and said if he had any evidence to support that ministers and chief minister were involved in the scam, he should table it in the House.
Baghel demanded that a House committee probe should be conducted that would bring out the facts. The opposition members later staged a walk-out from the House as the state government did not respond to their demand.
Baghel demanded that a House committee probe should be conducted that would bring out the facts. The opposition members later staged a walk-out from the House as the state government did not respond to their demand.