ED quizzes MP Pyarimohan Mohapatra in chitfund scam

Bhubaneswar, Nov 17: Rajya Sabha MP and Odisha Janmorcha (OJM) leader Pyarimohan Mohapatra was today questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the multi-crore chitfund scam in the state.

"I appeared before ED office here. They had called me over telephone last night. I stayed there for about two hours and 20 minutes and submitted some documents. I can't reveal anything else as it will affect the investigation process," Mohapatra told reporters.

Mohapatra's appearance before the ED is significant as the MP had himself earlier revealed that Seashore Group CMD Prashant Dash had met him twice. The OJM leader had earlier claimed that a state government official had brought Dash to his house at Saheed Nagar and the CMD assured him to set up a maize factory at Nabarangpur district. Mohapatra had also attended the Seashore Group's function in the past.

This comes in the wake of the multi-billion Sharada chit fund scam in WEst Bengal that has involved some of the big shots in politics and media. Once a media honcho Kunal Ghosh, recently claimed to commit suicide by swallowing 53 sleeping pills in jail. He said that the main culprits should be punished first.

PTI