Chit Fund Scam: DSP Pramod Panda Suspended

13 days after he was arrested by the CBI for alleged links with AT Group chief Pradeep Sethy in the multi-crore chit fund scam, DSP Pramod Panda was finally suspended from service today. The state government flouted the rules to save Panda despite the fact that he should have been suspended within 24 hours of his arrest. The suspension order will take effect from December 19, 2014.

Panda was arrested by the CBI on December 19. His bail plea was rejected by the special CBI court on December 24. He is currently lodged in Jharpada jail. Pramod Panda, a former DSP of Crime Branch in Odisha, was posted as DSP, District Intelligence Bureau (DIB), Nayagarh when he was arrested.

Panda reportedly used his clout to save Pradeep Sethy on many occasions and even influenced the Crime Branch probe to a great extent. His wife Gitanjali, was running a computer centre named ZICA in Bhubaneswar, which received huge funds from AT Group chief Pradeep Sethy.