Clearing the way for his induction into the cabinet, the Jharkhand government has got the arrest warrants against expelled Forward Bloc legislator Bhanu Pratap Shahi withdrawn.
The Madhu Koda government succeeded in getting recalled the three warrants pending against Shahi in Garwah district on Friday.
On Thursday, the Garwah police moved the chief judicial magistrate's court requesting the warrants be recalled as the investigations in the cases were under progress. According to reports, the court recalled the warrants for the time being and the final judgment will be on Oct 12.
"There is no problem in inducting Shahi as minister. The warrants against him have been withdrawn in the light of investigation," Chief Minister Madhu Koda told reporters in Ranchi.
He said: "First information reports and allegations do not mean that a person is guilty, unless he is convicted by court." Koda announced he would expand his cabinet by on Tuesday.
After Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibte Razi asked Koda to reconsider inducting Shahi, who faces 14 criminal cases, as minister, the chief minister moved to get the cases withdrawn.
After taking charge of the state, the Koda government first removed the Garwah superintendent of police, Deepak Verma, on whose instructions a few cases had been registered against Shahi. In the monsoon session of the Assembly—when Munda was chief minister—Shahi had raised the issue of getting Verma removed from Garwah.
{{/usCountry}}After taking charge of the state, the Koda government first removed the Garwah superintendent of police, Deepak Verma, on whose instructions a few cases had been registered against Shahi. In the monsoon session of the Assembly—when Munda was chief minister—Shahi had raised the issue of getting Verma removed from Garwah.
{{/usCountry}}The Koda government, which enjoys the support of 42 legislators in the 82-member houses, needs the support of each legislator supporting it. This urgent need prompted the Koda government to get the cases withdrawn.
The National Democratic Alliance, which ruled the state till last month, reacted sharply to the government move. "This is nothing but a mockery of democracy."
"How an absconder is made minister. The Koda government initiated the process to withdraw the cases only to save itself," said former chief minister Arjun Munda.