ANGUL: Another chit fund scam involving over Rs 1.33 crore has surfaced with around 50 depositors from various parts of the district registering complaint at Angul police station on Friday against the company, Ashore Group.
Sources said the company duped hundreds of depositors in the district after opening its office in the heart of the town in 2009. Lured by different schemes, several depositors invested in the company. But, before they could get the return, the company officials fled.
“I was told by an agent of Ashore that I would get at least three per cent of interest every month if I deposit Rs one lakh. Besides, the deposit would be doubled in five years,” said one of the complainants Srikanta Parida of Bantal. “I thought that instead of keeping the amount in a bank which pays less interest, I should deposit it in the company for higher return so that I can develop my business,” he said adding that he waited for the monthly interest like many others for one year.
On receiving the complaint, when police reached the spot, they came to know that the company had closed its office in 2013.
IIC of Angul police station Himansu Bhusan Swain said complaint has been received against the company’s Chairman-cum-Managing Director Biresh Chaudhury, Directors Dipak Pothal, Krushnakanta Maharana and Satya Ranjan Dash among others. After the permission of the higher authorities, the case would be handed over to the State Crime Branch, he added.