Mumbai-based model grilled in chit fund scam

Last month, the CBI had raided Bhatia’s home as well as the house of stock broker Deepak Chandratan Pareek in Mumbai. Bhatia, Sethy and one Indu Dewan were directors of Mumbai-based company Prism Heights Films & Entertainment Private Limited.

The CBI, during its interrogation of stock broker Pareek, is reported to have learnt that the directors of Artha Tatwa group spent Rs 80 lakh at a party, which was also attended by filmstars. Pareek, who was arrested on Sunday, allegedly helped Sethy’s company Artha Tatwa Capital Limited register at the Mumbai Stock Exchange.

Meanwhile, the petitioner in the Orissa chit fund case, Alok Jena on Tuesday met CBI director Ranjit Sinha in New Delhi. He demanded that the CBI interrogate expelled BJD leader Prafulla Ghadai over his revelations that several BJD ministers, MPs and MLAs are evading CBI summons to appear. Jena said 14 BJD ministers, MLAs and MPs have been served summons, but only two — Pravat Tripathy and Pranab Balbantray — appeared before the CBI.

In a related development, the Orissa State Bar Council on Tuesday decided to move the court against the arrest of former advocate general Mohanty. “The CBI has not followed proper procedure…there was no ground for taking him on a two-day remand. He was cooperating with the CBI…there was no record and evidence that he was trying to flee the state,” said Manas Ranjan Mohapatra, president of the State Bar Council.