By Our Correspondent
Bhubaneswar, January 13, 2015

The ruling BJD Lok Sabha member from Balasore, Rabindra Jena, on Tuesday said he had no dubious relations with the defamed Seashore Group, a ponzi firm and claimed that he had some “fair” business transactions with the company before he joined politics.

“I had fair business transactions with Seashore Group. The company had taken money from me in advance for investment in real estate sector. It has returned me a part of the advance and it owes some outstanding to me,” Jena said.

The BJD lawmaker, who was questioned by the CBI on Monday, said he had submitted his company’s balance-sheets, bank accounts, tax document and other papers to the investigating agency for verification and examination.

“I was questioned about some business transactions with Seashore. I have answered all questions and provided all relevant documents to the CBI,” Jena told this newspaper.

Jena appealed the opposition Congress and BJP leaders not to spread “untruth” with regard the content of his appearance in the CBI.

Sources close to the MP said Jena headed the ‘Supratik’ group of companies, which had lent an Rs 18 crore to the Seashore group in 2010. Seashore had paid back the lion’s share of the money, but still owed Rs 1.86 crore to him, the sources added.

The five companies under the Supratik conglomerate are Supratik Infra Ventures, Supratik Plastics, Bikram Private Limited, Shree Sanyeeji Rolling Mills and NextTech Power Solutions.

Jena was the co chief executive officer (CEO) in Balasore Ispat Alloys from January 31, 2007 to January 30, 2009 and became managing director (MD) in the same company from January 30, 2009 and stayed in that capacity till November 3, 2011

Jena is the second BJD MP to be questioned by the CBI in the chit fund scam. Earlier, BJD MP from neighbouring Mayurbhanj constituency Ramchandra Hansda was arrested by the CBI after several rounds of interrogation on his links with Nabadiganta Financial Services, a chit fund company.

Reacting to the development, BJD spokesperson Samir Dash said that one has to wait a little to find out why Jena had been summoned before commenting on the issue, but hastened to reiterate the hackneyed party stand that it had nothing to do with what individuals did.

“The Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik has made it clear on the party’s foundation day that the party is not responsible for those who indulge in wrongdoing,” he said.