Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 20: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Saturday sought a five-day remand for crime Branch DSP Pramod Panda, who was arrested by the agency Friday on charges of indulging in conspiracy and deriving undue financial gains from Artha Tatwa Group.
The CBI earlier sought to take Panda on a seven-day remand, but the special CBI court granted a five-day remand to the Central agency.
Besides the money laundering, Panda was also accused of threatening Alok Jena, a petitioner who had filed a PIL in the chit fund case, earlier this year. Panda who was the CB DSP at the time had gone to Delhi on official tour along with one of his associates, Saroj Kumar Rath. Notably, Jena and his wife had filed three FIRs against Panda in New Delhi accusing him of intimidating him and threatening him with dire consequences if he did not withdraw his PIL in the apex court.
In two separate moves taken by the special CBI court Saturday, the agency was given an additional three-day remand of former Microfinance Ltd MD Durga Prasad Mishra, and a five-day additional remand of Jagabandhu Panda, a former director of the AT Group. Mishra was arrest by the CBI Sunday, whereas Panda was arrested December 11. Mishra was produced before the special CBI court after his six-day CBI remand expired.
