Cuttack, Feb. 27: The judicial commission probing into the Ponzi scam has expressed dissatisfaction over the state government's action to prevent unauthorised collection of public deposits.
Yesterday, the state government submitted before the panel an action-taken report stating that steps were being taken in electronic medium and print medium at regular intervals "for creating public awareness against unauthorised collection of public deposits by various companies".
Taking note of it, commission inquiry head Justice Madan Mohan Das said: "On a holistic reading of the action-taken report, it transpires that all the steps are in premature/proposal stage except the steps taken to cause broadcast in All India Radio. Nothing is stated as to how the government is taking steps to publicise the awareness in print medium."
"The state is, therefore, directed to file an affidavit through its authorised officer of the home department at least of the rank of additional secretary stating as to how the proposals mentioned in the action-taken report are being implemented," Justice Das said in his order, while fixing April 2 for next hearing on the matter.
The order said: "The observation of the commission is that awareness campaign (in print medium) is to be taken, so that it is properly and exhaustively circulated even in remote areas of the state."
The commission was hearing a petition seeking intervention against unchecked unauthorised collection of public money, money laundering, money trailing and illegal circulation of money by different persons/companies involved in the activities in violation of the provisions of the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 2002, in the state.
On January 20, acting on the petition filed by high court lawyer Pravat Ranjan Dash, the commission had "as an interim measure" directed the state government to launch an intensive public awareness campaign to prevent unauthorised collection of deposits in the state. The state government was also asked to file an action-taken report.
According to the commission's order, the state government in its action-taken report stated that funds had been placed with station director of the Prasar Bharati Commercial Broadcasting Service, All India Radio, Cuttack, for broadcasting an investors' awareness programme. The AIR had started broadcasting it and it shall continue till March 31.
The action-taken report further said the scripts for investors' awareness for telecasting on Doordarshan had been finalised by the state and necessary contact form for executing the agreement has been sent to the director, Doordarshan Kendra, Bhubaneswar.
The state panchayati raj department has been requested to issue suitable instructions to the district, block and panchayat-level functionaries to arrange for the distribution and display the awareness posters on unauthorised collection of money at prominent locations in each panchayat office.
All collectors and district magistrates have been requested to conduct awareness programmes in their respective districts to safeguard the interest of the investors, the report claimed.
The petitioner in his affidavit specifically alleged that a company, M/s Agri Gold, was still operating its business in Cuttack and its outskirts and has been collecting huge amounts of money from a large number of investors.
While taking note of the affidavit in its order, the commission directed the home department to "also give the state's reaction in this regard in the affidavit mentioning as to if any action had been initiated to prevent such illegal connection of public deposits".
