Chit fund commission submits second interim report to Odisha govt

Bhubaneswar: The Justice MM Das Commission of Inquiry, probing the multi-crore chit fund scam in Odisha, on Friday submitted its second interim report to the state government.

Debraj Rout, the secretary of the commission, submitted the report to Home Department Special Secretary Lalit Das at the state secretariat here.

“The report has been prepared after examining 61,252 affidavits out of which 19,422 small investors (investors with deposits below Rs 10,000) have been identified. Money of 1,124 depositors have been refunded,” said Rout.

On May 25 last year, the Commission had submitted its first report to the state government. The Commission recommended the process to refund money to small depositors duped by chit fund companies in the state.

It may be noted here that while the Commission had received 8,17,253 affidavits in total from investors out of which in the first phase after due examination of 26,976 affidavits it has identified small investors.

While complaints have been filed by the investors against as many as 174 money collecting agencies, 110 firms have been sent notice by the Commission to file a reply.

Officials added, unable to find a proper address for communication, the probe panel has sought a response from 65 companies through newspaper advertisement regarding their money collecting activities.

It is learnt that the Economic Offences Wing of State Crime Branch has failed to provide information regarding 26 such companies which were active in Odisha a couple of years ago.