The three Jharkhand Congress MLAs who were detained in Bengal with a pile of cash yesterday have been arrested and the Crime Investigation Department (CID) will take over the probe in the case, officials told news agency PTI. They were earlier today suspended from the party with immediate effect. The party had earlier sought to link it with the BJP, saying that the three leaders were given money to make the state government fall.
The BJP, however, said the money is proof of corruption in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-Congress alliance government.
Congress has alleged that the BJP was trying to topple the JMM-led government in Jharkhand by offering ₹ 10 crore to each MLA. It said it has lodged a police complaint against its three legislators arrested in West Bengal’s Howrah.
Addressing a press conference, Congress minister Alamgir Alam said the party’s Bermo MLA Kumar Jaimangal has lodged a police complaint against the three legislators for allegedly luring other MLAs by offering ₹ 10 crore each and a ministerial berth if the BJP forms government in the state.
“We have information on everyone. In the coming days, be it any public representative, party’s office bearer, or any worker, whoever is found connected or involved in this, the party will take action against them,” Avinash Pande, General Secretary and In-charge, Jharkhand Congress, had earlier said.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Delhi, Mr Pande said Congress president Sonia Gandhi has suspended the three MLAs with immediate effect.
The MLAs — Irfan Ansari from Jamtara, Rajesh Kachhap from Khijri, and Naman Bixal Kongari from Kolebira — are being questioned by the Howrah Rural police about the source of the money.
