The Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a state-wide agitation against the State Government demanding CBI probe into the chit fund scam.
Addressing a protest rally here organised by the Bhubaneswar organisational district of the Congress, Pradesh Congress Committee president Jaydev Jena said the involvement of the State Government in the scam and the patronage of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to the ponzi companies have been established during the investigation by the State police.
The business of the ponzi companies flourished in the State after they got stamp of approval from the Chief Minister, who was seen with the scamsters at public functions. Several ministers and BJD MLAs are major beneficiaries of the chit fund companies, he said.
Jena dared the Chief Minister to reveal the names of those people who got undue favour from ponzi companies, which have looted small investors to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore.
Demanding a CBI probe into the scam, Jena said the Chief Minister’s announcement for judicial probe is intended to buy time. The Chief Minister had set up 23 judicial commissions of inquiry during the last 13 years and in some cases in which the judicial commissions had submitted report, the Government has not taken any action.
Jena asked the Chief Minister to initiate criminal proceedings against the ministers, MLAs and other influential persons who have received gratification from the ponzi companies. The Government should enact special laws for confiscation of properties accumulated by the chit fund companies and repay the investors.
The Congress will further intensify its agitation if the Government failed to provide relief to the affected people, he warned.
The Congress committees in all 30 revenue districts and three organisational districts staged demonstration in front of the offices of the district collectors and additional district magistrates and submitted memoranda to the Governor, demanding CBI probe.