BJD MP's bail plea rejected

The petition of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Rama Chandra Hansda, arrested in a chit-fund scam, seeking bail to attend the budget session of Parliament was rejected by a designated CBI court here on Thursday.

The Lok Sabha member from tribal-dominated Mayrubhanj constituency in north Odisha is currently lodged in the Jharpada prison here after his arrest by the CBI last year in connection with the over-hundred-crore chit-fund scam in the state.

 He was taken into custody by the premier investigating agency for his alleged links with Nava Diganta Capital Finance Services Limited, a state-based tainted chit-fund company currently under investigation.

Hansda, who has already been suspended from the BJD following his arrest, had moved the court with a plea that he should be granted bail at least for a day so that he can attend the budget session of the Parliament to retain his Lok Sabha membership. Citing rules, the MP had stated that he may seize to be a member of Parliament if he remains absent from the house for 60 consecutive sittings.

Hansda has been behind the bars for months now and had to skip the winter session of Parliament.

The CBI court had heard his plea on Tuesday and had kept its judgment reserved till Thursday. Sources said the sitting MP is now contemplating to take the matter to the higher courts.