Bhubaneswar, Dec. 10: BJD MP from Balasore, Rabindra Kumar Jena, was today grilled by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his alleged links with Seashore Group, a money deposit collection company.
Jena, who had earlier appeared before the CBI on January 12 last year, was quizzed by the investigating agency today for around seven hours.
Emerging out of the CBI office, Jena said that he was asked to provide documents related to his business transactions with Seashore.
" I had lent some money to the group in 2011-12. Though the company has already repaid some of the loan amount, it is yet to repay the whole. The transaction was related to real-estate business."
The entrepreneur-turned-politician said: "I have not taken any benefit from the Seashore Group. Rather they owe me money." Sources in the CBI said that Jena claimed that he had given a loan of Rs 18 crore to the company and was yet to get back the amount.
On November 14, the central investigation agency had asked Jena to appear the next day, but Jena had sent his lawyer with some documents on November 26, which forced the agency to serve notice to him asking him to appear before them personally.
Jena, who owns properties worth Rs 57 crore, is one of the richest MPs from Odisha. A successful entrepreneur, Jena had started his career with a company in Balasore with which he worked till 2011. He joined the BJD only a few days before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and managed to get the party ticket.
The CBI, so far, has interrogated several ruling party leaders besides arresting Mayurbhanj MP Ramchandra Hansdah and Banki legislator Pravata Tripathy.
The central agency has also interrogated BJD legislators Pravat Biswal, Pranab Balabantaray for their involvement in the money laundering scam.
Tripathy, accused of receiving Rs 42 lakh in cash for patronising AT Group chief Pradeep Sethy, is at present on bail.
Though the CBI maintained silence in most parts of this year, the grilling of Laxmi Bilasini, wife of Cuttack-Choudwar legislator, Pravat Biswal and Jena (all belong to BJD) within a week has created ripples among the ruling party leaders just before the panchayat polls due early next year.
The role of Laxmi Bilasini came under scanner after the investigating agency found a land deal at Benapur village in Jajpur district between Seashore group and her.
Seashore Group had allegedly collected crores from investors promising them 24 per cent interest per annum.
The Ponzi firm had a number of subsidiaries, including STV Samachar, Soubhagya Drinks, Seashore Dairy Products, Seashore Pharmaceutical Industries, Seashore Biotech Private Limited, Seashore Pen Industries and Seashore Roller Flower Mill.
The group had also signed a number of MoUs with the state government and its agencies to set up joint ventures.
