New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the Centre and West Bengal government on a public interest litigation that calls for the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe the Saradha chit fund scam.

A bench of Chief Justice Altamas Kabir also issued notice to other state governments and the Centre on the petitioners' pleas for empowering the Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to regulate chit fund schemes in the country.

The court passed the order on two PILs filed by Pratim Kumar Singha Ray and Subrata Chattoraj seeking to stop the entire chit funds business in the country and also for a restraint on further collection of funds from investors as an immediate remedial step.

The petitioners said they have no faith in the police authorities. They alleged that the proceedings initiated by state government appeared to be “biased and prejudiced” and that is why they are seeking a CBI probe into the Saradha chit fund scam in West Bengal.

The petitioners also sought a direction to the Centre to stop the entire chit funds business in the country till a proper mechanism is put in place to regulate them.