Chit Fund Spectre: BJD May Deny Tickets To Balasore, Mayurbhanj MPs

Bhubaneswar: The BJD seems unlikely to renominate Mayurbhanj MP Ramachandra Hansdah and Balasore MP Rabindra Jena, in order to steer clear of the chit fund taint.

Party sources said Hansdah, who was incarcerated for 4 years for his alleged role in the fraud pertaining to Ponzi firm Nabadiganta Capital Services, and Jena, who was questioned by the CBI in relation to the Seashore scam, might not get BJD tickets for the forthcoming polls.

Hansdah was arrested by the CBI in November 2014 on the charge of criminal conspiracy, cheating and diversion of funds as one of the directors of Nabadiganta. He was released from Jharpada Special Jail in July 2018 after the Supreme Court granted him bail. The central agency had also raided the MP’s residence months before arresting him and seized Rs 28 lakh.

Though the Mayurbhanj MP had initially claimed it was his own money, he later said the cash belonged to his supporters.

In January, the Orissa High Court granted the Balasore MP anticipatory bail in the multi-crore Seashore chit fund scam. The court had extended interim protection to him in 2017 after his residences in Balasore and New Delhi were raided. The Balasore-based entrepreneur was under the CBI scanner for the alleged dubious transactions.

He headed the Supratik group of companies, which had availed term loan to the tune of Rs 18 crore from the Ponzi firm in 2011-12.

The axe may also fall on Choudwar-Cuttack MLA Pravat Biswal, Banki MLA Pravat Tripathy and several other tainted party leaders who have been implicated in the scam which rocked the state in 2012.

Also Read: BJD To Field Kin Of Two Chit Fund Scam Accused!

While BJD president Naveen Patnaik is yet to announce the candidates for Mayurbhanj and Balasore Lok Sabha seats, sources said the party plans to field fresh faces in both the seats.

In Mayurbhanj, several options, including Rajya Sabha member Sarojini Hembram, are being mulled. Sarojini, however, has reportedly declined the offer.

Similarly, the party is thinking of making Jena’s wife Subasini its nominee from Balasore.

This is also on the lines of the BJD’s stance to field 33 per cent women candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. It has already announced three women candidates – Kaushalya Hikaka (Koraput), Pramila Bisoi (Aska) and Sunita Biswal (Sundargarh) and needs four more names to complete the numbers.