Sports Minister, Narad Rai, got a sigh of relief when lokayukta, Justice (retd) NK Mehrotra, conducting probe against him regarding Disproportionate Assets case and other charges of misuse of power, closed the investigation giving a clean chit to him.
“Yes, the probe against Narad Rai, regarding allegations of misuse of power and that he made huge properties have been closed by me as the complainant failed to provide any evidence to support his charges and the investigation also found the allegations as baseless,” disclosed NK Mehrotra, while confirming that he closed the file against Rai, giving him clean chit in the matter.
Sources said that one Chandramani Rai, a native of Balia, which is also hometown of Sports Minister, had lodged a complaint on May 30 last, alleging that the minister was misusing his power by getting construction work done on a disputed portion in Balia.
The complainant also said that he had made a complaint in this regard with the local police but due to influence enjoyed by the minister, even an FIR has been not registered. Sources said that during the probe, Mehrotra found that the matter was very old and much before Narad Rai became minister.
Along with this, the matter was related to Narad Rai's brother and he was no where in the scene and that it was also in the court. lokayukta also summoned SP Balia, Raju Babu Singh, who confirmed that the complainant was making false claims and that never in the past, he had given any application against Narad Rai to the local police or even to the court where the two parties were fighting a civil suit.
Sources said that besides the above, the complainant also failed to provide any details of the property or wealth which could support his charges that Narad Rai had made huge wealth. lastly, Chandramani also made allegations that Narad, who is a sports minister, also made bungling in purchase of items in his ministry, which has been made in Balia.
The probe pointed that Narad Rai has nothing to do with the purchase and that it (purchase) was also made as per the laid norms. Sources said that in wake of all allegations turned false and the complainant also claimed that he had no more proof with him in support of his allegations, so Mehrotra finally closed the probe against Narad Rai on Thursday evening.