Chit Fund Scam: HC Grants 2-Month Interim Bail To BJD MLA Pravat Biswal

Cuttack: Pravat Biswal, the BJD MLA of Cuttack-Choudwar, arrested by the CBI in connection with the Seashore chit fund scam, was granted two-month interim bail by the Orissa High Court on Tuesday.

The court, while granting the bail, asked the BJD MLA to cooperate with the Central investigating agency and appear before the court after two months.

Biswal was arrested from his Mahanadi Vihar residence in Cuttack on September 19 last year for his alleged complicity in the Seashore Group chit fund scam.

But he was admitted to the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar on health grounds. As his condition deteriorated on September 25, the doctors recommended for his shifting to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

The MLA was under scanner over a deal between his wife Laxmi Bilasini Biswal and Seashore Group CMD Prashant Dash over a piece of land at Benapur mouza in Jajpur district.

Dash had paid Rs 25 lakh for the land by cheque in two installments to Laxmi Bilasini in April 2012. However, he cancelled the deal later and wanted his money back.

The CBI which was probing into the Seashore chit fund scam, later came to know about the complicity of the MLA in this deal and interrogated him and his wife. After a series of interrogation, the CBI arrested the MLA on September 19 last year.