Argus News - 4.27 Lakh Victims Await Chit Fund Refund as Odisha Reveals Shocking Figures

Bhubaneswar, Mar 30: The Odisha Assembly witnessed a series of significant disclosures from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, highlighting issues ranging from chit fund refunds to corruption cases and attacks on government officials.

According to the Chief Minister’s written reply, 4,27,487 chit fund victims are yet to receive refunds. Out of 8,78,953 applicants from Rose Valley Group, Golden Land Value, and Hi-Tech Estate Promoter Group, 3,27,642 depositors have already been refunded ₹128 crore.

In addition, 99,845 small depositors recommended by the commission have received ₹47 crore from the corpus fund.

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The government has also recovered over ₹8.5 crore through confiscation of assets from eight companies. So far, 68 illegal financial institutions have faced property seizure orders, with 42 upheld by courts.

On police infrastructure, CM Majhi revealed that 25 police stations in Odisha lack their own buildings. Among them, 24 operate from other departmental premises, while Puri Sadar police station functions from a rented house. In Bhubaneswar Commissionerate, Lingaraj, Mahila, and AG Square Traffic police stations also run from rented facilities.

The Assembly was informed that 29,093 SC/ST atrocity cases were registered between 2016 and 2026, of which 4,972 were proven false after investigation. This figure underscores both the scale of reported atrocities and the challenges of verification.

Corruption cases also featured prominently. Between April 2025 and March 2026, 230 government officials faced corruption charges, including 52 first-class and 41 second-class officers. Of 206 cases concluded, 102 officials were convicted, and 23 employees dismissed.

Vigilance raids during this period seized ₹10.27 crore in cash and unearthed disproportionate assets worth ₹4.76 crore.

Concerns over safety of government officials were also raised. In Balasore district alone, 157 cases of attacks on officials were registered, while statewide figures stood at 1,286. Police have arrested 1,083 accused in connection with these incidents.