Utkal Bharat seeks SC-monitored probe into chit fund scam

Bhubaneswar, October 16: Expressing deep concern over the ongoing
CBI probe process into the mega chit fund scam, the Utkal Bharat, a regional
political outfit, here on Thursday urged the Supreme Court to directly monitor
the investigation in the State and pleaded it to shift the trial outside Odisha
for free and fair hearing.

“So far as the ongoing CBI investigation into the mega chit
fund scam in the State and the partiality by the Odisha High Court and
High Bar Council and Bar Association in former advocate general Ashok Mohanty’s
release on bail goes we have no faith either on judiciary in the State nor on
the investigation process,” alleged Swain here at a Press conference.

Swain said the manner in which lawyers of the state and the
hounourable Odisha High Court expressed sympathy towards former AG Ashok
Mohanty, who was arrested by the CBI for his alleged links with the chit fund a
free and fair investigation and trail is not possible in the State at all.

“Many influential persons including current Manipur High
Court chief justice LK Mohapatra, even CBI officials and bureaucrats and
politicians are involved in the scam directly and indirectly. The role of the Manipur
HC chief justice in selling a land which he had got out of the discretionary
quota to AT group chief Pradip Sethy which was later transferred to former AG
Ashok Mohanty is also dubious,” alleged Swain.

“Hence, we urge the apex court to monitor the case directly
and ensure that the case is shifted to other State for trial after
investigation,” added Swain.

Last week, Swain wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of
Supreme Court of India highlighting partiality by the Odisha High Court and
High Bar Council and Bar Association in Mohanty’s release on bail.