Port Blair, Mar 23: Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, the Member of Parliament requested the Home Minister, GoI requested for intervention in the case of M/s Roofers Group of Company who are alleged to have been involved in running a Ponzi Scheme.
This company is registered under the companies Act, 1956 Kolkata Corporate Identity Number:U45400wb2009plc140341. The said firm started its business in the Islands during 2010 and later spread its branches through the territory. As per information, the firm collected around 25 crores in the year 2010, around 50 crores in the year 2011 and 150 crores in 2012.
The complaints were filed by Islanders at PS Mayabunder and PS Aberdeen against the above said company. The company is reported to be controlled by three persons, one of whom Shri Hirak Nath Sounth, CMD Roofers Group is in Judicial Custody at Baleshwar, Odisha. In the Islands, the operations of the firm was handled by three persons, namely Shri Ajit Baroi, Shri Joshua and Shri Ranjan Halder (the first two being employees of PBMC). More than 7000 agents were recruited by the firm in the islands and deposits exceeding 150 crores from unsuspecting Islanders. Many of the Islanders have deposited their hard earned money in the scheme such as their retirement dues, by mortgaging properties etc.
With the disappearance of the firm, the unsuspecting and innocent Islanders have been left in a lurch and have been running from Pillar to Post to get back their investments.
Considering the scale of Islanders affected by the alleged fraud, the Member of Parliament has given his opinion that the state may have to play a leading role in providing some assistance to the affected parties as well as to prevent such instance from happening in the future.
The Member of Parliament also suggested that wide publicity may be given for information of general public to stay away from such schemes so that they do not lose their hard earned money. The public may be made aware to question the promoters of such scheme about their registration with SEBI or RBI. SBI could take a lead in clarifying doubts when any person approaches it about a scheme and claims to be registered with SEBI or RBI.
To look into the aspect of approaching SEBI for taking action against the firm for getting back the money and to return it to the investors.
He said that In the Sharadha Chit Fund Scam of West Bengal, the Hon’ble Calcutta High Court had constituted a one man Commission to enquire into the Scam by the company and other similar companies and to entertain applications by the people affected by such ponzi schemes in order to provide relief to the investors. The order of the Hon’ble High Court and actions taken by the State Government may be obtained from West Bengal so that similar steps can be taken by the Administration too for providing some relief to the innocent investors from the Island Territory.
The MP said, it may also be noted that the Company has 2.02 hectares of land recorded in its favour at Brichgunj village in Port Blair Tehsil bearing Survey No.63, 272 and 273. The Administration may also look into the aspect of taking over of these lands by the authorities by way of attachment or otherwise in realizing atleast some dues.
The MP added that Departmental action for the two promoters of the Scheme who are employed in PBMC may also be initiated as they too appear to be complicit in the operations of the firm in the Islands (beside the Criminal case already under way). In any case, these officials prima facie appear to have violated the Service Rules by engaging in such activity.
The Member of Parliament also requested the A & N Administration to take immediate necessary action in the regard.
