Investment scam: CB begins probe

BHUBANESWAR: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch has taken up investigation into the investment misappropriation by City-based Star Consultancy Ltd which is accused of duping hundreds of small-time investors.The firm, run by Tribeni Kumar Mohanty, is charged with defrauding and cheating public to the tune of hundreds of crores of rupees. At least five FIRs were registered with Sahid Nagar Police by the investors over last one year and a half. Police have submitted chargesheets in four of them. The EOW took over investigation on the basis of the fifth FIR.In fact, a petition was filed by some of the investors in the Orissa High Court in which they stated that Mohanty had established several companies under the names of M/s Star Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd, M/s Star Yogic Resorts & Leisures Ltd, M/s Star Concrete Pvt Ltd and New Era Resources Pvt Ltd which allegedly collected crores of rupees from the petitioners/depositors under various schemes. The petitioners had also claimed that Mohanty cheated the public to the tune of ` 300 crore.Mohanty, Managing Director of Star Consultancy Services Ltd, had allegedly promised the depositors a double return on their investment. Some of the investors were also paid double the investment. Land Scam: Meanwhile, the EOW has also started investigation into the alleged land scam by Sai Pragati Properties and Assets after a direction from the High Court. The Bhubaneswar-based company had allegedly duped thousands of investors of crores of rupees. Its MD Debashis Mohanty was arrested by the City Police following complaints from the investors in March.