Depositors from Maharashtra, who have been cheated by dubious Oscar chit fund company and are now in Odisha, are allegedly being threatened to return back and not to help the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of the Odisha Crime Branch in the enquiry process.
Ten depositors had filed an FIR at the Gosaninuagaon police station in Berhampur on Wednesday alleging that some miscreants including one Priya Raut, who happens to be the son of Prabhas Chandra Raut, head of the Oscar chit fund, had given them death threats. They along with social activist Pramila Tripathy, who is providing shelter and protection to these poor depositors, filed the FIR. In the FIR they mentioned the two mobile phone numbers from which they had received threatening calls on June 16 after reaching Berhampur.
“On the same day six youths on bikes reached my home where these depositors were sheltered and threatened them. They also abused them and said if they did not return back their dead bodies would return back to their homes. They even threatened to bomb my house”, said Ms. Pramila.
The depositors have already met the EOW officials in Bhubaneswar and as per their advice, filed the FIR in Berhampur.
Speaking to The Hindu , the depositors said 40 other poor depositors from their State who were conned by the Oscar chit fund are also facing similar threats in Maharashtra. “These 40 depositors had also bought train tickets to reach Odisha but threats dissuaded them from boarding the train,” they said. These depositors have sought necessary protection and arrest of persons involved in harassing them in Odisha and Maharashtra.
Mr. Raut, who was heading Oscar chit fund firm that is alleged to have duped people of over Rs. 230 crore, was arrested by Crime Branch officials from a temple at Hauz Khas area in New Delhi on June 10.
The firm had opened branches in Maharashtra and Gujarat apart from Odisha and collected huge deposits from gullible depositors through lucrative schemes.
Oscar chit fund
firm is alleged to have duped
people of over
Rs. 230 crore
