Adding momentum to its probe into the alleged horse-trading efforts during Jharkhand’s countermanded Rajya Sabha polls on March 30, the CBI on Friday carried out simultaneous raids on the properties of 15 MLAs at over 35 locations across the state and seized fresh documentary evidence.
At least 32 separate teams of CBI sleuths conducted the raids on the homes and offices of the MLAs, including labour minister Chandraprakash Chaudhary, in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Hazaribagh, Godda, Giridih and Bihar’s Banka, among other places, early in the morning. The MLAs whose premises were raided belonged to all major parties in Jharkhand except the Opposition Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM), which had stayed off the RS polls.
Ten MLAs of the ruling BJP-JMM-AJSU-JD(U) alliance (3 JMM, 2 BJP, 4 AJSU and 1 JD-U), three from the Congress and two from the RJD faced the raids, said CBI sources. The CBI also conducted raids on the Kolkata premises of businessman Ajay Maru in connection with the horse-trading allegations during the March 30 RS polls that the Election Commission annulled following seizure of `2.15 crore in cash from a car on polling day.
CBI sources said a few laptops and several bundles of documents were seized from the legislators’ premises. The raids were conducted reportedly after the CBI accessed the mobile phone records of the MLAs in Jharkhand and found a pattern in the calls made just before and during the March 30 polling day.
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No disciplinary action on ex-cm
S.V. Krishna Chaitanya
MYSORE, MAY 18
All the vitriol against Bharatiya Janata Party leaders notwithstanding, the ruling party has decided to forgive former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa rather than initiate disciplinary action against him, according to state unit chief K.S. Eshwarappa.
Speaking to mediapersons here, Mr Eshwarappa said on Friday, “Though a few legislators have expressed their displeasure over Mr Yeddyurappa’s public outbursts, the party has decided not to take disciplinary action. He (Mr Yeddyurappa) is hurt and is being harsh on party leaders as he is under stress. The party will back him in these tough times.”
Mr Eshwarappa said that Mr Yeddyurappa’s concerns would soon be addressed by senior central leaders of the party. “I wish Mr Yeddyurappa emerges clean from all the charges soon and work to strength the party in the state. All speculation about Mr Yeddyurappa quitting the BJP to float a new party or joining the Congress is baseless. He will remain in the BJP and continue to be our leader.”