It is perhaps the country?s biggest commission of inquiry. Justice RK Patra Commission, probing into the R5,000-crore chit fund scam in Orissa, has received over seven lakh petitions. The deadline for receiving the same ended on Monday after two extensions. ?Over 7 lakh affidavits have been filed by victims of the chit fund scam,” said Patra.
Sources in the commission told FE it would be an herculean task to handle such a huge number of complaints as there is no space for storing the affidavits. The recording of the deposition of the complainants would be particularly tough. The commission may requisition more manpower to handle this task, sources said.
Following the Saradha Group chit fund scam, the multi-core chit fund scam of Seashore Group and Aratha Tatwa Group came to light in Orissa. While the Seashore Group has expanded from selling packeted food to shipping, the AT Group has invested in real estate. Both have ventured into media by owning Tv channels and newspapers.
The economic offences wing of the state crime branch police is investigating into the Seashore Group bungling while the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack commissionarate police is inquiring into the AT Group case.
