Bhubaneswar, June 11: The BJP today demanded the arrest of Odia film stars who has had links with Ponzi company boss Prabhas Rout.

Rout, the chairman of Oscar Group of Companies, was arrested by crime branch from a hideout in New Delhi yesterday.

The BJP also accused the BJD of being in league with the fraudsters through the Odia film stars who had actively campaigned for the ruling party in the last elections.

The artists targeted by the BJP at a news conference held here today are BJD Rajya Sapha MP Anubhav Mohanty, Lok Sabha MP Siddhant Mahapatra, MLA Akash Das Nayak and MLA candidate Pappu Pom Pom alias Tatwa Prakash Satapathy and veteran actor Uttam Mohanty. Some of them are said to have visited Surat and Dubai to promote the films made by Rout who has been accused of swindling nearly Rs 230 crore raised from investors in Odisha, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Rout, through his Oscar Group of Companies, had produced Odia movies such as To Akhire Mu, Most Wanted, Rangila Toka and Balunga Toka. Anubhavand Pappu Pom Pom have acted in Balunga Toka, while Siddhant acted with Pappu Pom Pom in Rangila Toka. Anubhav was there in Most Wanted and Babushan in To Akhire Mu.

BJP state vice-president Samir Mohanty today alleged that the film stars had given legitimacy to the Ponzi companies and had inspired the confidence of gullible investors to spend in Rout's companies. Mohanty alleged that the movie stars had even attended events organised by him.

"If someone is involved either directly or indirectly with a thief, then he or she will also be considered a thief. They should be arrested for abetting Rout's company. This association of these popular leaders implied that the ruling party is also largely involved in promoting the tainted Oscar Group of Companies," said Samir.

Reacting to the allegations, actor Uttam Mohanty said that he had attended three programmes organised by Rout's group to distribute awards, one of which was in Surat. He admitted that he had also visited Siridi with Rout.

"Me and my son have acted in one of the films produced by Oscar, but we had no idea about the company's chit fund links. I am ready to face any kind of inquiry," said Mohanty.

Anubhav admitted that he knew Rout for a long time, but he was not aware of the source of money that he had invested in making movies.

"Those who have cheated poor people of their money through these Ponzi companies must be punished and the poor investors must get their money back," he said.

In another development, the crime branch today began interrogating Rout over his involvement in the multi-crore money laundering. He will be in police remand for five days.