The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the national probe agency CBI today took sitting Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Lok Sabha MP, Ramachandra Hansda into its custody for six days, along with two former MLAs - Subarna Naik of BJD and Hitesh Bagarti from BJP, for questioning them about their roles in the tainted chit fund firm, Naba Diganta Capital Services Ltd.These leaders were produced before the special chief judicial magistrate (CJM) court here after their arrest yesterday. The company had collected about Rs 15 crore through its branches located at undivided Puri and Cuttack districts between 2011 and 2013. Though it had returned back Rs 7.30 crore to some depositors, the rest amount is yet to be refunded. The CBI is conducting probe whether the firm has actually refunded the money it is claiming.
The name of three politicians cropped up while searching the records of the company to find out its promoters. Earlier this year, the agency had seized Rs 28 lakh during a raid at the residence of Hansda, who claimed the money was kept for renovation of his house but later changed his statement saying it belonged to the party and his supporters.There were also allegation that the company was engaged with the Odisha government for developing hostels for tribal students in Mayurbhanj area, from where Hansda has been elected to Lok Sabha. Before joining BJD, Hansda was a member of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). After the court order, Hansda said CBI arrest was unnecessary as he was ready to cooperate in the probe process. "In spite of the fact that we deposed before the CBI, they went on to arrested us. It implies that it is part of a political conspiracy (to defame BJD) and the CBI is doing this for cheap publicity," he said before being taken into custody.
The CBI has been criticised by ruling party members for focusing only on the involvement of its party leaders in the multi crore chit fund scam.
