Chit fund scam: CBI arrests Mumbai model Preeti Bhatia

Bhubaneswar, October 10: The CBI sleuths on Friday arrested
Mumbai based model and tele serial producer Preeti Bhatia for her alleged link
with Artha Tatwa Group, accused of duping thousands of investors in the
multi-crore chit fund scam.

Earlier on Thursday the Bhatia had told mediapersons that she
was not involved in any chit fund scam.

Sources said, the CBI on Friday morning interrogated Bhatia
for fifth time before arresting her. 

She was grilled for several hours on Wednesday and
Thursday consecutively.

Preeti had appeared before the CBI on September 23 and had
shown relevant documents to the investigators, but the sleuths appeared to be
unconvinced with her replies. She was asked to appear again after two days.

Sources said the serial producer sought two weeks time to
provide more documents, which she showed to CBI sleuths on Thursday. CBI has
asked Preeti Bhatia not to leave Bhubaneswar for sometime.

Sources said, Pradeep Sethi, Preeti Bhatia and Indu Dewan had
set up Prism Heights Film and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, with their office based in
Mumbai’s Santacruz.

The firm had produced several tele serials and an Odia film
“Aasibu Kebey Saajibu Mo Raani starring BJD legislator Akash Dasnayak.

CBI had raided Preeti Bhatia’s house in Mumbai in August.