Former OCA Secretary Ashirbad Behera arrested by CBI over connection to chit fund scam

(Reporters Today, Bhubaneswar): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today arrested former Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) secretary, Ashirbad Behera over his alleged complicity in the ‘Artha Tatwa’ chit fund scam. A team of 15-20 CBI officials had reportedly raided the residence of Behera here early this morning. As per reports, Behera who donned the secreatary’s chair in OCA for quite a few years was arrested by the CBI today along with owner of Hotel Solan Inn, Kamalakanta Das.

CBI had filed chargesheet against Behera, Kamalakanta Das and Director of AT Group Sambit Kumar Khuntia on August 29 under relevant sections of IPC and Prize Chits & Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978. “It was alleged that the Odisha Cricket Association through its Honorary Secretary and in criminal conspiracy with Odisha-based Group of Companies, promoted the said Group of Companies so that the credibility of the companies rose in the eyes of general public and more people invested in the different schemes floated by said Group of Companies,” the CBI had said in a release.

Behera had been under the scanner of the CBI since 2014 after allegations on his links with the AT Group came to fore. He was interrogated several times in the past in connection with the matter. Behera and OCA had played a crucial role in promoting the AT Group by roping them as sponsors for Ranji trophy and Odisha Premier League matches in 2011 and 2012, CBI sources said. However, his son Sanjay Behera alledged that, “it is a conspiracy against his father prior to the conduct of elections for Odisha Cricket Association.”

Behera who was also a former honorary secretary of Odisha Olympic Association (OOA) is also under CBI scanner in connection with Barabati Stadium land grabbing allegations.