CBI arrests Odisha ex-AG in fund scam

Was quizzed by agency for links with AT group

Barely 10 days after he resigned, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday arrested former Odisha advocate general (AG) Ashok Mohanty in connection with multi-crore chit fund scam. 

He has been taken into custody by the premier investigating agency for a controversial deal to purchase a house from Pradip Sethi, the arrested chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) of Artha Tatwa (AT) group, a tainted Odisha based chit fund company currently under the CBI scanner. 

Mohanty had been interrogated by the central investigating agency recently for his links with Sethi. After his interrogation, Mohanty told reporters that he had not committed any illegality by purchasing the Cuttack house from Sethi. 

“Truth will ultimately come out. God and guru are my witnesses. As per my conscience, I have not committed any wrong,” Mohanty said while being taken inside CBI's state headquarters here.

The plot of Cuttack Development Authority believed to be worth over Rs 1 crore was given to Mohanty allegedly without making any payment, the CBI claimed.

The charge was, however, denied by Mohanty who said he had paid Rs 1.01 crore through cheques issued against his bank account in SBI. During the probe, CBI claimed to have found that on October 5, 2012, Sethi sought No Objection Certificate (NOC) to sell his plot further.

The NOC was received and within 20 days it was sold to Mohanty allegedly without any payment being made against it, the CBI alleged and claimed that Mohanty helped the group in escaping any action by state authorities.

The former advocate general also claimed to have shown bank documents to CBI officials in regard to payment. 

So far, nine high profile individuals have already been arrested by the CBI for their links with AT group and its CMD Sethi. They include owners of media houses, builders, businessman, stock brokers and persons having close links with political leaders. 

A senior ruling BJD legislator, Prabhat Kumar Tripathy, has also been questioned by the CBI for his links with the AT group. However, he is yet to be arrested. He has already moved the Orissa High Court for an anticipatory bail.