The search operations conducted by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths at houses of several Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders has exposed the link between the ruling party leaders and the people involved in the multi-crore chit fund scam, said state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), today.
"The state government had sought to avoid CBI probe into chit fund scam by submitting an affidavit in the Supreme Court that no political leader belonging to the ruling party was involved in the scam. However, the recent raids by CBI officials at houses of BJD leaders proves that Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik was trying to cover up the links," said Bijay Mohapatra, senior leader of BJP at a press meet here.
In May this year, the apex court had directed CBI inquiry of chit fund scam in four states including Odisha, rejecting its plea of not to initiate a probe by the central agency as crime branch wing of the state police was already investigating the complaints. The CBI has started search operations in the state since last month and has arrested couple of officials engaged in some chit fund companies. It has also quizzed at least four BJD leaders in connection with the scam.
The ruling party, however, said, it was wrong to arrive at a conclusion while the probe was still on.
"We still stick to our claim of non-involvement of party leaders in the scam as mere raids at houses of some leaders do not mean they are guilty. Since the CBI is yet to file any charge sheet, we must wait to see whether the agency has proof against any party leaders," said Pratap Keshari Dev, former minister and BJD leader. The BJP also cornered the state government over revelations about misuse of discretionary quota by BJD leaders and state government officials. "The task force conducted by the state government to investigate land lease under the discretionary quota norm is another attempt by the state government to hush up the irregularities of general administration department, which is headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. If he is really interested to reveal the truth, then he must hand over the investigation to CBI," said Mahapatra.
The state government has also not submitted reports to Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) regarding misuse of land in Chandaka industrial area by many industrial houses and KIIT deemed university despite a missive from the head office of the central auditors to the chief minister in this regard, he added.
The ruling BJD, however, said Mohapatra's attempt to attack the state government is a political stunt as he is now in the race to take over the mantle of the state BJP unit.
"Mohapatra knows very well that most of the discretionary quota irregularity took place at the time of BJD-BJP coalition government, when K V Singhdeo (current BJP Odisha chief) was a minister of the department. The allegation levelled by Mohapatra will only strengthen his pitch for heading the state BJP unit," said Samir Das, another BJD leader.
