Bhubaneswar: The noise over Wednesday’s India-Sri Lanka T20 match in Cuttack took an interesting twist Thursday, as it came to light that ponzi-scheme scam accused Subhankar Nayak was present in the BCCI’s VIP box at the Barabati Stadium during the match.
The BCCI box is usually reserved for sportspersons, top officers, ministers and OCA members. Only individuals having VVIP passes are allowed to sit there. The issue has sparked a political fight, as talks are doing round that the chit fund accused, who walked out of the jail on conditional bail, still has close links with some influential personalities.
Arrested by the CBI in 2014 for his alleged involvement in Seashore chit fund scam, Subhankar was granted conditional bail by the Orissa High Court August 1 this year.
Subhankar was allegedly working as a conduit between the blacklisted Seashore ponzi firm and some political leaders, bureaucrats and police officers of the state. The CBI during its raid at Subhankar’s place had reportedly found a diary containing names of various politicians and top officials. His presence in the BCCI box is now raising questions about the CBI investigation into the scam, with opposition parties asking why the premier investigation agency failed to act against the influential persons having links with Subhankar.
The reaction of OCA officials about VIP pass allocation to Subhakar triggers further suspense about Subhankar’s link with politicians and top officials. OCA working committee chairman Dhiren Palai, who refuted allegations regarding giving VIP pass to Subhankar, said, “BCCI box pass is generally given to top bureaucrats, IPS officers, sports personalities and OCA officials. OCA doesn’t know who Subhankar Nayak is and the person might have collected the pass from any of the VVIP persons who got the pass.”
Both Congress and BJP have pointed fingers at the state government. “Presence of a chit fund accused among VVIPs in a special gallery raises serious questions and the matter should be probed thoroughly,” said Leader of Opposition in Orissa Assembly, Narasingha Mishra.
Mishra also wondered how Subhankar got a BCCI box pass when state’s Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Leader of Opposition did not get a complementary pass for the match.
BJP state-unit vice-president Samir Mohanty said police must find out who issued the VVIP pass to Subhankar.
Defending the state government, BJD chief whip Amar Satpathy said that the state government has no role in the matter, as OCA issues the passes.
1 held for online ticket gaffe
Cuttack: Cantonment police Thursday arrested the owner of a private agency that was instrumental in online ticket sale for the T-20 match between India and Sri Lanka at Barabati stadium here Wednesday. Accused Binoy Karmachhetri was later produced in a local court. Around 300 audiences faced difficulties to enter the stadium as their tickets did not have the signature of DCP.
PNN
