Bhubaneswar, July 2: Former MLA Pravat Ranjan Biswal suffered a legal setback on Wednesday after the Orissa High Court dismissed his petition seeking to quash the chit fund scam case registered against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

While refusing to interfere with the proceedings, the High Court directed the Special CBI Court to expedite the trial and complete it within the next six months. The court also instructed the trial court to avoid unnecessary delays and repeated adjournments so that the long-pending case can be concluded within the stipulated time.

Biswal had earlier moved the High Court in connection with the same case. At that time, the court had directed the Special CBI Court to complete the trial within one year. However, despite the passage of more than two years, the proceedings have remained pending.

In his latest petition, Biswal contended that the prolonged delay in the trial reflected the lack of sufficient evidence against him. He argued that the investigating agency had failed to establish the allegations and sought quashing of the criminal case.

The High Court, however, rejected his plea, observing that the matter should be decided through the trial process rather than being dismissed at this stage. The court reiterated the need for speedy disposal of the case and instructed the Special CBI Court to conclude the proceedings within six months, bringing fresh momentum to the long-pending chit fund scam trial.

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