VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Jan 7: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a notice to the three MLAs of Jharkhand Congress to appear for questioning in the ‘MLA cash case’.
The notice was officially served to MLAs namely Irfan Ansari, Rajesh Kacchap and Naman Bixel Kongari on Saturday to appear on January 13, January 16 and January 17 respectively.
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.
