Ranchi, Jan 29 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a key partner of the Shibu Soren government in Jharkhand, is unhappy over the decision not to hand over the money laundering scam case involving former chief minister Madhu Koda to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
"The state government's decision is a shameful act and unfortunate. BJP will take up the issue with the central party leaders," senior BJP leader Saryu Rai told reporters.
The state government led by Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) had Thursday, in an affidavit to the Jharkhand High Court, said there was no need for a CBI probe against Koda and five former ministers.
"The probe against Madhu Koda and others are going in the right direction. The vigilance bureau is a competent investigation agency and there is no need to hand over the investigation to CBI," the government affidavit said.
The court had asked government to clarify its stand over a CBI probe against Koda and five former ministers while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL).
State BJP spokesperson Sanjay Seth also expressed unhappiness over the government stand.
"The party is of the view that the CBI should be handed over the probe for speedy investigation," he said.
Durga Oraon had filed a PIL in 2008 seeking a CBI probe against Koda and five of his ex cabinet colleagues, Enos Ekka, Harinarayan Rai, Kamlesh Singh, Bandhu Tirkey and Bhanu Pratap Sahi. In the petition, Oraon had alleged that Koda and the former ministers were amassing assets beyond their known sources of income and a CBI probe should be ordered to investigate the matter.
Jharkhand vigilance bureau has also lodged Disproportionate Assets (DA) cases against Koda, Kamlesh Singh, Enos Ekka, Hanarinarayan Rai, Bandhu Tirkey and Bhanu Pratap Sahi.
Koda, who is at the centre of a Rs.2,500-crore money laundering scam, is in jail since Nov 30 after his arrest by the state vigilance bureau. Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate officials Oct 31 raided 69 places in eight Indian cities, including houses owned by Koda.
Kamlesh, Ekka and Rai are also in jail in DA cases.
Tirkey, who is an independent legislator, is also supporting the Soren government.
Opposition parties in the state have been demanding that the BJP make its stand clear on the issue.
"Now the BJP should make its stand clear over the government's decision not to hand over the Koda case to CBI. The BJP is part of the Soren government and it had made a CBI probe an issue in the past," said Pradeep Yadav, a legislator of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P).