Officials of the vigilance department Thursday raided the homes of two former Jharkahnd ministers Enos Ekka and Harinarayan Rai to arrest them on corruption charges. But neither was at home.
They are now keeping a close watch on the houses of close associates of the two ex-ministers, officials said.
"We are planning to raid Ekka's residence in Simdega district and Rai's house in Deoghar district. We have to execute the arrest warrant issued by the court," a source in the vigilance department said. Both have been charged with possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
Both former ministers went underground after a court issued non-bailable warrants against them June 27. Ekka had filed a petition in the high court seeking to quash the warrant. The high court rejected the petition Tuesday.
The officials allege that Ekka possesses assets worth Rs.3.73 crore more than his known sources of income while Rai has assets worth Rs.1.16 crore more than his known sources of income.