Separate petitions for corruption have been filed against three former Jharkhand chief ministers in the state high court.
The graft charges may affect their prospects in the upcoming assembly election which is likely to take place in October and November. Some of the former ministers
facing corruption charges have urged the court to expedite their cases.
Shibu Soren's name is the latest to be added to the list of politicians facing graft charges. An interlocutory petition was filed against him in the Jharkhand High Court on Tuesday. The PIL (public interest litigation) has been filed by Samim Ahmad, a resident of Ranchi.
Ahmad in his petition has charged that by misusing his position, Soren has been able to own properties worth more than Rs. 53 crore. The petition also says that he purchased 37.7 acres of land in the name of his wife Rupi Soren. The market price of the plot is Rs. 66.75 lakh.
Similarly, Durga Oraon has filed a PIL against former Chief Minister and Lok Sabha MP, Madhu Koda as well as five other former ministers.
Another interlocutory petition was filed last month against another former chief minister and Lok Sabha MP Arjun Munda. He has been charged of amassing wealth more than his known sources of income.
Moreover, an interlocutory petition has been filed against central Food Processing Minister Subodh Kant Sahay. He has been accused of floating three companies in his brother's name.
The hearing of Durga Oraon's petition is underway in the Jharkhand High Court. The court has sought details of the tax filed by Madhu Koda and five other ministers from the Income Tax department.
A First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged against Koda and three former ministers including Bandhu Tirkey, Kamlesh Singh and Bhanu Pratap Sahi.
The vigilance court has also issued arrest warrants against two former ministers -- Enos Ekka and Harinarayan Rai.