CBI quizzes BJD MLA Pravat Tripathy on best cooperator award to AT Group chief

BHUBANESWAR: Four days after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Orissa High Court, the CBI today interrogated senior BJD MLA and former Chief Whip Pravat Tripathy in connection with a non-banking financial institution winning the best co-operator award.

"They asked me certain questions on the mode of selection of ' Artha Tatwa' Group chief as the winner of the best youth cooperator prize for running Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society by the State Cooperative Union. I replied all their questions," Tripathy told reporters after his nearly 90-minute interrogation.

AT Group, a non-banking financial institution, which is being investigated by the central agency for its alleged involvement in the multi-crore chitfund scam, had received prize from the state government's organisation for its activities as a multi-purpose cooperative society.

Meanwhile, Tareswar Das, the office superintendent of Odisha State Cooperative Union (OSCU), an apex cooperative society which promotes the movement in the state, was grilled by the CBI in this connection yesterday.

Official records relating to award announcements, recommendations and nomination for last three years were also submitted by Das to the probe agency.

The AT Group chief had won the 'Best Youth Cooperator Award' when Tripathy was the president of the cooperative union. Apart from AT Group chief Pradeep Sethy, another chit fund scam accused Ranjan Das was also in the race for such an award.