CBI raids Pyarimohan’s houses

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, Nov 18: Central Bureau of Investigation, investigating into the cases relating to the mega chit fund scam in Odisha, conducted raids at as many as 18 places, including the houses of Rajya Sabha Member and Odisha Jan Morcha president Pyarimohan Mohapatra in Bhubaneswar and New Delhi, on Tuesday.The raids were connected simultaneously at as many as 16 places in Odisha and two places in New Delhi and Mumbai relating to the alleged links with the Seashore Group of companies.Among the houses raided by CBI include the houses of two retired IAS officers, offices of industrialists, brokers through whom cash dealings were made, and residences of several close associates of Seashore Group head Prashant Dash.In Odisha, several teams of CBI officials carried out the raids at many places including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Rourkela. Meanwhile, Mohapatra welcomed the CBI raids.Mohapatra was on Monday questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged money laundering by the Seashore Group companies.Dash, who was earlier questioned by the Enforcement Directorate, is in CBI custody at present.In another development, secretary of Odisha Cricket Association Ashirbad Behera and three others were questioned by the CBI in connection with the Artha Tatwa Group, another company involve in the chit fund scam in the State.Behera was questioned for the third time on Tuesday.His son Sanjay Behera was questioned by the CBI on Monday.Artha Tatwa Group head Pradeep Sethy is in judicial custody since long.