Bhubaneswar : After a BJD MP and former MLA were arrested by the CBI in chit fund scam in Odisha, the state Congress and BJP Tuesday hit out at the ruling party stating that the party has patronised the chit fund companies to loot the people of the state.
“It is just the beginning. Many leaders of BJD would land in jail in the coming days. The party, which had patronised the chit fund firms in the state, would be exposed by the ongoing CBI inquiry into the chit fund scam,” said Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Jaydev Jena to reporters here.
Senior Congress leader and former OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik said the ruling party cannot escape from the thousand-crore scam.
He said, “The so-called clean image of Naveen Patnaik has been tarnished following scam after scam unfolding with each passing day. The CBI is probing 44 chit fund companies in the state and three BJD leaders have been arrested in only two cases.”
Though one of his party’s former MLAs was arrested by the CBI Tuesday, state BJP president K.V. Singhdeo tried to turn the table on the BJD.
“We have been demanding a CBI probe into the chit fund scam to expose the complicity of BJD leaders in the scam. Now, it has come true that the ruling party leaders are hand in glove with the chit fund companies,” said Singhdeo.
However, the ruling BJD put up a brave face and tried to defend itself.
“Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is always against corruption. So, whoever is found guilty, action would be taken against him as per the law. The state government and the party never patronise anyone who loot the people of the state,” said BJD spokesperson Samir Das.
BJD MP Ramchandra Hansdah, former BJD MLA Subarna Naik and former BJP MLA Hitesh Bagartti were arrested by the CBI Tuesday for their alleged involvement in Naba Diganta Capital Financial Services chit fund firm.
The CBI is probing 44 companies, including Naba Diganta, for allegedly duping thousands of depositors in the state. The CBI probe into the chit fund scam began on a Supreme Court order.