Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has granted interim protection to former Balasore MP Rabindra Kumar Jena from any coercive action by the CBI in connection with the multi-crore Seashore chit fund scam in Odisha.
The court has forbidden the central agency from taking coercive action against Jena till its next hearing. However, it has directed the former MP to cooperate with the CBI in its probe.
Jena had moved the HC after the CBI summoned him to depose before it on July 14 in connection with the Ponzi scam.
He had come under the CBI scanner following his dubious business deals with Seashore Group, which is accused of cheating investors of more than Rs 500 crore. The investigation into the money trail, involving Seashore group, also revealed alleged financial transactions of Rs 1.76 crore between the Ponzi firm and the former MP.
Jena, who was summoned earlier by CBI for questioning, had admitted having business terms with the Ponzi firm but denied any complicity in the scam.
His wife, Subasini Jena, is currently a legislator from Basta Assembly seat in Balasore.