CBI arrests BJD MLA in chit fund scam

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, Oct 31: Biju Janata Dal Member of Legislative Assembly Pravat Tripathy was today arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation for his alleged involvement in the mega chit fund scam in Odisha.Tripathy was arrested at the CBI office in the Capital city when he appeared before the investigators for the second time after Orissa High Court denied him anticipatory bail recently.Tripathy had approached the High Court apprehending arrest for allegedly receiving a large sum of money from Pradeep Sethy, head of Artha Tatwa Group and one of the main accused in the scam who is in judicial custody since long.The ruling BJD, headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, was fast to disown the legislator from Banki and suspended him from the party soon after his arrest.After raiding Tripathy’s houses in Banki and Cuttack, the CBI had questioned him on at least two occasions before he moved the High Court for advance bail.The court, however, had rejected his bail plea after granting him interim protection for some days.