Argus News - Odisha Government Launches Refund Drive for Chit Fund Victims

Bhubaneswar, Dec 22: The Odisha Finance Department has released a public notification announcing the refund process for small depositors who suffered losses in chit fund scams.

The government has assured that priority will be given to these depositors, and urged all eligible applicants to take advantage of the scheme before the deadline.

According to the advertisement, the refund process is targeted at two categories of depositors:

• First — All small investors who deposited up to ₹10,000 and were recommended by the Inquiry Commission but have not yet received refunds.
• Second — Depositors of Golden Land Developers who invested up to ₹8,000 and missed refunds in the first phase.

 
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To check the status of their applications, depositors can visit the official district websites where lists of pending applicants are available.

Additionally, names, affidavit numbers (for Inquiry Commission cases), and application numbers (for Golden Land Developers cases) can be entered on the official portal www.opid.odisha.gov.in to track the current status of refund applications.

For claiming refunds, depositors must approach their respective Revenue Inspectors (R.I) with necessary documents. The required papers include valid identity proof (Aadhaar, voter ID, driving license, PAN card, etc.), original deposit receipts, and bank account details (account number, bank name, IFSC code). The bank details are mandatory only for those recommended by the Inquiry Commission. Once verified, refunds will be processed within 15 days.

The government has clarified that this refund process will remain open until 31 January 2026, giving depositors ample time to submit claims. The Finance Department has requested all small investors to utilize this opportunity to recover their money.

For further assistance, depositors can contact the helpline number 0674-2395153 during working days between 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

This initiative marks a significant step by the state government to provide relief to thousands of small investors who lost their savings in fraudulent chit fund schemes.