Odisha: CBI arrests BJD MLA in Seashore Chitfund scam case

Cuttack: Ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislator Prabhat Biswal was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday in connection with the Seashore Chitfund scam in Odisha.

Biswal is an MLA from Cuttack-Chowdwar. He was picked up by CBI on late Monday night from his Cuttack residence and declared arrested on Tuesday morning.

Earlier, he was quizzed four times in connection with a land deal with the Seashore Group chief Prasant Das. His wife Laxmibilasini Biswal was also quizzed by the CBI regarding her involvement in the Jajpur Benapur land scam.

According to sources in CBI, the couple sold land to the Seashore Group for a massive sum, but failed to produce necessary documents and sale deeds.

Biswal is the second BJD legislater to be arrested after Prabhat Tripathy, who is on bail. 

Seashore Group is one of the 44 ponzi companies in Odisha which came under the scanner of the CBI following an order of the Supreme Court to probe their finances and transactions. The CBI has already filed a chargesheet in the Rs 500 crore Seashore chit fund scam.

With IANS inputs