**Bhubaneswar: ** After a lull for some months in 2016 as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has tightened up its belt to dig into the multi-crore Seashore chit fund scam in Odisha, it all seems that the legal tentacles over ruling Bjiu Janata Dal (BJD)’s Balasore Lok Sabha member Rabindra Jena are looming large.
Apprehending arrest by the central investigating agency, the Balasore MP has, meanwhile, knocked the doors of Orissa High Court pleading for anticipatory bail.
Even though CBI had earlier summoned Jena and was also issued notice to re-appear on January 12 this year, its sleuths had on that very day, amazingly, conducted raid at his house in Balasore town while he was reportedly missing there.
Notably, Jena had appeared before the CBI here in the capital city on December 10 last year and had been grilled for around seven hours over his alleged links with the tainted Seashore chit fund firm.
Since January 16 was the extended deadline of CBI asking him to depose and he did not turn up at the CBI office here, it is being assumed that he is evading his possible arrest.
Even his whereabouts are yet to be known.
OMMCOM NEWS constantly tried at being in touch with him over phone for his reactions, but all in vain as his cell number remained switched off.
Veteran journalist and Odisha chit fund victims’ advisor Rabi Das in his reactions said, “The juncture at which the CBI has reached now in its ongoing probe, I think Rabi Jena’s arrest is certain. CBI has earlier left him scot free several times. In the wake of CBI raid on his Balasore home recently, he himself is apprehensive of his imminent arrest for which he has applied for anticipatory bail. It has been noticed that the High Court is not granting anticipatory bail in the sensitive chit fund case. High Court rather rules to surrender before the designated court of CBI.”
Das added, “He has been unable to explain his financial transactions with the tainted Seashore firm. He had been issued notice to appear, but did not turn up on January 12 following which the raid was conducted on the day and he was not found at his raided home. When Mahima Mishra could not be able to hide long, Rabindra Jena is an MP, Lok Sabha member, he can’t hide for good. He has to surface and I don’t think he could be able to evade arrest.”
“Besides Jena, CBI had swooped down on Saroj Sahu and Pravat Biswal. Now it is to be seen what actions CBI is going to take against these two,” he questioned.
Notably, BJD’s Mayurbhanj MP Ramachandra Hansdah has much earlier been arrested by the CBI in connection with Nabadiganta Capital Services Ltd. (NCSL) ponzi scam.
CBI has on February 19, 2015 already filed preliminary chargesheet against six functionaries of NCSL chit fund firm at the Special CBI court here accusing them of cheating Odisha investors to the tune of Rs 8.39 crore.
Besides Ramachandra Hansdah, former Odisha MLAs Hitesh Bagarti (BJP) and Subarna Naik (BJD) have also been named in the 150-page chargesheet.
Nabadiganta is one of the 44 companies which were under the scanner of the central investigation agency for its alleged involvement in the multi-crore chit fund scam in Odisha. The CBI is probing the matter as per an order of the Supreme Court.