By Our correspondent, Bhubaneswar, January 28, 2015 ###

Former Justice of Odisha High Court, Radha Krushna Patra, who was probing into the chit fund scam
in the state, passed away at the SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, on Wednesday morning.

Seventy two year old Justice Patra, suffering from pneumonia, was admitted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack January 24 as he.

He was later admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital and kept on the ventilator support.

However, his condition began to deteriorate in the early hours on Wednesday and his body did not respond to the medicines he was administered.

“Despite all efforts of the doctors to restore the condition of Justice Patra failed as he breathed his last at 9.30 AM,” an SCB Medical College and Hospital spokesperson said.

Justice Patra was instrumental in compilation of data with regard to thousands people duped by fraud chit fund firms. He was recently in news for his blunt remark that the judiciary commission headed by him to probe into the chit fund scam was not getting adequate support from the state government.

His remark had forced the government to announce that it would complete the enumeration process of the duped depositors within two months.

Meanwhile, the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of the Odisha Crime Branch on Wednesday announced a toll-free number to enable the people to inform about chit fund activities in their area.

“We have provided a new toll-free number 18003457103 through which people can inform us about any chit fund activities going on in their area which will help the EOW to act swiftly,” said Crime Branch additional director general (ADG), Bijay Kumar Sharma.

The toll-free number will be available from 7 AM to 10 PM every day, he added.