Odisha ponzi scam: SC asks CBI to expedite probe against firm

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Central Bureau of Invetigation (CBI) to expedite its probe and filing of charge-sheets in the multi-crore rupee chit-fund scam cases against Seashore group of companies in Odisha.

“ The CBI shall expedite the probe and filing of charge-sheets where it has not been done,” the Bench comprising Justices TS Thakur and C Nagappan said. Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, appearing for CBI, said in 17 cases against the group, the local police had already filed the charge-sheets and now the probe agency is looking into 21 other matters.

It was alleged by the investors that there as many as 44 FIRs pending against the group and the CBI was not doing the needful. Disposing of some investors’ plea, seeking a direction to the CBI to take up probe in all 44 scam cases against the group, the Bench said the CBI is “cognizant” of the facts and would take steps.  

Pravat Kumar Dash, the director of the Seashore Group of companies, is in jail in connection with the chit-fund scam.

The SC had, on May 9 last year, ordered a CBI probe into the chit fund scam cases in West Bengal, Odisha and Assam allegedly involving various companies including Saradha, while taking note of allegations that scamsters were getting “patronage” of people in “high positions”.