Investors protest against Astha International before the economic offence wing office in Bhubaneswar on Friday. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, June 7: Kharavela Nagar police today brought Artha Tatwa (AT) group chief Pradeep Sethi and two other directors of the company on five-day remand.

The cops will question them face to face with 22 people, who had been summoned following Sethi’s revelation that they had taken money from him.

“We will question the three in front of 22 persons, who had been summoned. Most of the summoned persons denied the charges Sethi had brought against them,” said a senior police officer.

Sethi was arrested on May 12 for cheating investors over Rs 500 crore after promising them good interests. Other two directors, Manoj Pattnaik and Shree Krishna Padhi, have been brought on remand for the first time.

Fourteen persons of 22, who had been summoned, appeared before the investigating officer on June 4 and 5. They included Odisa Cricket Association secretary Ashirbad Behera, owners of some media houses and few builders.

In another development, economic offence wing of the crime branch today sealed an office of Seashore Company located near Vanivihar railway station at Saheed Nagar

Moreover, a group of investors, who had deposited money with real estate firm Umamani Home Creations Private Limited, today staged a protest, demanding their money to be returned. At the same time, another group of investors demanded action against the fraud deposit collection company Astha Internationals.

The police had arrested the managing director of Umamani real estate firm Narayan Nayak, who is also a film producer. He had produced two films Premarogi and Prema Adhei Akhyar while his third film Prema Kebe Marena is under production.

Investors alleged that though they had lodged complaints against Astha International one week ago, the officials did not take any steps.

“The company has taken money worth more than Rs 200 crore from us. However, the police are not taking any step against the company,” said Pradeep Kumar Sahu, an investor.

Deputy inspector general Rajesh Kumar said a case had been registered against the company in Berhampur. “We are considering whether to register a case,” said Kumar.