VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Jan 7: The three MLAs of Jharkhand Congress are quite likely to get a notice from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to appear for questioning in the ‘MLA cash case’. Well placed sources claimed that the notice will be officially served to MLAs namely Irfan Ansari, Naman Bixel Kongari and Rajesh Kacchap by today evening (January 7).
They may be asked to turn up at the Ranchi zonal office of the ED next week on any given date. “All the three are accused in the cash recovery case investigated by the Bengal police. The ED later on took up this case for investigation. Earlier, the statement of Anup Singh, a Congress MLA, was recorded. He is the complainant in this case. Now these MLAs have been summoned to cross check the facts and to record their statement,” sources said.
On December 24 last year, the ED had recorded the statement of MLA Jaimangal Singh alias Anup Singh. These three MLAs on July 30 were intercepted and then arrested by the Bengal police along with Rs 48 cash. It was alleged that these MLAs were returning after receiving cash from the BJP and they were part of the BJP’s game plan to topple the Hemant Soren-led JMM-Congress-RJD government.
Jaimangal Singh intervened in this matter a day after the arrest of his colleagues. He filed a zero FIR at the Argora police station in Ranchi and claimed that he was offered Rs 10 Crore by these MLAs to join BJP’s game plan. He also claimed that BJP’s Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma was handling the entire operation.
However, the arrested MLAs rubbished allegations and said that it was their legitimate money which they carried for the purpose to purchase saris for voters of their constituency Jaimangal Singh, on the other hand, claimed that these MLAs — who now stand suspended from the party — wanted to take him to Guwahati to arrange his meeting with Himanta Biswa Sarma. Jaimangal Singh said that the MLAs told him that Himanta Biswa Sarma would give him assurance of a definite ministerial berth apart from the money. Jaimangal Singh said that he refused the proposal to topple the present government.
