Bhubaneswar, Nov 21 (IANS): Pyarimohan Mohapatra, a Rajya Sabha member from Odisha, Friday appeared before the CBI here in connection with a chit fund scam.

The interrogation began at 10 a.m.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sources said Mohapatra is being questioned for his alleged links with Seashore Group chief Prasant Dash, who has duped thousand of depositors in the state.

The agency is trying to find out the political links in the scam and money trial by questioning Mohapatra, who was second in command in the Naveen Patnaik led BJD government before he fell from grace in 2012.

The CBI had raided Mohapatra's residence in Bhubaneswar and New Delhi Nov 18 and seized various documents, including his bank account details.

The Enforcement Directorate had also quizzed him a few days back in connection with the case.

The chit fund company had inked several MoUs with the Odisha government in the tourism, health and cooperative sectors.

Denying his link with the scam, the Rajya Sabha member had welcomed the CBI probe.