Fearing arrest, BJD MP moves Odisha High Court

Bhubaneswar: Apprehending arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with Seashore Group chit fund scam, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Lok Sabha member Rabindra Kumar Jena on Friday moved the Odisha high court seeking anticipatory bail. In his bail plea, the MP has mentioned that the Central investigating agency is deliberately putting him in trouble as the panchayat election is approaching, court sources said. Since he is an elected representative of the ruling party, in view of the ensuing poll, he should be granted bail, sources quoted Jena’s bail plea. On Thursday, the CBI sleuths had conducted searches at Mr Jena’s New Delhi and Balasore residences as he failed to appear before the central probe agency in person. In its January 9 notice to the Lok Sabha MP, the Central investigating agency had asked him to appear before it in connection with the scam. The CBI had earlier grilled Mr Jena on January 13, 2015, and December 10 last year.

During the earlier interrogation, the CBI wanted to know from the lawmaker about financial transactions that took place between his company ‘Supriti’ and the Seashore group.

Supriti group faces the allegation of taking `18 crore in loan from Seashore. Though Jena had already explained to the CBI that he had repaid the loan, the agency seems to be not satisfied with his answer and wants to interrogate him again.

The CBI notice to Mr Jena had created a flutter in the BJD, as some of its leaders are already behind bar in connection with ponzi scams.

BJD’s Banki MLA Pravat Tripathy and Mayurbhanj MP Ram Chandra Hansdah had been arrested earlier in similar chit fund scam. While Tripathy is out on bail, Hansdah has been in Jharpada jail since November 2014.