Jharkhand govt tells ACB to probe 5 BJP leaders
The Jharkhand government has ordered an ACB investigation into the matter after a PIL was filed in the High Court in 202, the government added in the statement.
The Jharkhand government has directed the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) to carry out a probe into the alleged disproportionate assets of five former ministers in the previous Raghubar Das-led Bharatiya Janata Party government -- a move that comes even as the Election Commission of India is looking into an office-of-profit case against chief minister Hemant Soren.
In a statement issued late on Tuesday, Soren’s government said it ordered the probe on the basis of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the Jharkhand high court in 2020 by Pankaj Yadav, alleging that the five former ministers had assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
The state government has ordered an ACB investigation into the matter after a PIL was filed in the High Court in 202, the government added in the statement.
The five former ministers being investigated are Neera Yadav, Randhir Kumar Singh, Neelkanth Singh Munda, Amar Kumar Bauri and Luis Marandi.
The move comes close on the heels of the state government in May ordering a probe by a judicial commission into alleged irregularities in the construction of the state assembly building inaugurated nearly three years ago by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
It also comes at a time when Soren is facing probe by the Election Commission of India over a complaint by the BJP that a mining lease on government land was granted to the chief minister, who also holds the mining portfolio, last year. The charge, if true, would amount to holding an “office of profit” and hence invite Soren’s disqualification from the legislative assembly under the Representation of People’s Act. Soren has dismissed the allegation.
Reacting to the state government’s order for a probe against former BJP ministers, Munda said he has declared all his assets in his election affidavits. “There is nothing to hide. Let them probe,” Munda, who served as rural development minister in the previous government, said.
State BJP chief Pratul Shahdeo questioned the timing of the order.
“Our leaders have nothing to hide. But the timing is suspect… two years after the PIL was filed… at a time when chief minister (Soren) is in trouble. He is doing this to deflect attention from his own wrongdoings,” Shahdeo said.
The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, however, claimed the PIL against the former BJP ministers was filed on the basis of their poll affidavits.
“If they (BJP leaders) have nothing to hide, why are they concerned about the timing of the government order?” JMM leader Manoj Pandey said.
The petitioner said he has provided details of the alleged growth in assets of the former ministers, who were part of Das’s cabinet from 2014 to 2019, in his PIL.
“We have compared their election affidavits for 2014 and 2019 (polls). There has been a sharp increase (in their assets) ranging from 200% to around 1,200% in five years. If the ACB asks us, we will provide more proof to back our claims,” he said, adding that he has made ACB, the income tax department and the state chief secretary parties to the petition.
The plea is yet to be listed for hearing in the high court.
The high court last month ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into alleged embezzlement of funds for the 34th National Games held in Ranchi in 2011 on the basis of another PIL. The high court transferred the inquiry from the ACB to the federal agency.
On May 17 this year, the state government ordered a probe by a judicial commission into alleged irregularities in the construction of the state assembly building.
The three-storied assembly building, constructed at a cost of ₹465 crore, was inaugurated on August 12, 2019 by PM Modi, 19 years after the state was carved out of Bihar. The foundation stone of the building was laid by Das in 2015.
Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy had during the last assembly session raised the issue of alleged “toffee and T-shirt scam” when Das, whom he defeated in the last assembly polls, was at the helm of the state in 2016. His reference was to the state government’s purchase of toffees and t-shirts for distribution to school students on annual statehood day on November 15, 2016. However, it is alleged that the funds were embezzled in the name of purchase and supply of toffee and t-shirts.
Soren assured an inquiry either by the ACB or a special committee to probe the alleged irregularities.
