CBI files supplementary charges in Odisha ponzi scam

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a supplementary charge sheet against three persons, including former secretary of the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) Asirbad Behera, in a case related to a Ponzi firm.

The other two persons are Kamalakanta Das of Hotel Solan Inn and Sambit Kumar Khuntia.

The CBI said they had been charge-sheeted under IPC sections and the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978. The CBI had registered the case against the Odisha-based group of companies and others following the Supreme Court order on May 9, 2014.

It was alleged the OCA through its Honorary Secretary in criminal conspiracy with Odisha-based group of companies, "promoted" them to help boost it's "credibility" to attract more people to invest in its schemes. 

The CBI said for that they received Rs 1 crore from the companies in the garb of sponsorship of the Odisha Ranjit Cricket Team and title sponsorship of Odisha Premier League 2011. 

It was also alleged that the representative of a hotel with other co-accused was involved in the misappropriation of immovable properties of the companies at Balasore and Bhubaneswar. 

The agency has earlier filed six charge sheets, including four supplementary ones against 33 accused, including eight companies and firms of the said group.IANS