The kingpin of Bihar intermediate exam toppers scam Amit Kumar, alias Bachcha Rai, who was arrested on Saturday from near Vishun Rai College in Vaishali district of which he is director-cum-principal, confessed bribing former chairman of Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) lalkeshwar Prasad Singh. But the more sensational revelation he made to the police was his closeness to a Union Minister belonging to the BJP from Bihar who had promised him all help for opening a Medical College.
lalkeshwar Singh, who was forced to resign from the office of the chairman of BSEB a couple of days back, is absconding and police have conducted raids at some places. Singh is husband of JD(U) leader and former MlA Usha Sinha, who is also a principal of Government girls’ college.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) had laid its hand on a bunch of photographs during raid on Rai’s house in which he is seen with the Union Minister. When the SIT inquired from him about it, Rai told the team about his closeness with the BJP politician. He said that the leader visited his college many times, attended its functions and also provided grant from college from his MP fund.
Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Sunday released some pictures showing Union Minister Giriraj Singh with Bachcha Rai, attending school programmes and giving awards to college toppers. He tweeted by posting the picture, “Modi’s fav Minister with scam accused & his father. He is bus partner and family friend of main culprit Baccha Rai.” In another tweet, the Deputy CM said, “The main culprit has cordial relation with a Central Minister who regularly joins his college functions to distribute prizes to toppers.”
Only a few days back when Bachcha Rai was absconding pictures have appeared in local Press showing Rai sitting behind RJD supremo lalu Prasad at some meeting. It was also alleged that Rai worked vehemently for lalu’s both sons Tejashwi and Tej Pratap Yadav during November Assembly election in their constituencies Raghopur and Mahua. When lalu was asked about it he retorted, “Who is this Bachcha Rai, arrest him. He defamed Bihar.”
The new photographs of Rai and his father Vishundeo Rai with BJP leader and Union Minister of State Giriraj Singh came handy for lalu’s son to launch counter attack. RJD spokesman Pragati Mehta said the police should probe the close relations between Rai and Giriraj Singh and bring all the facts related to the toppers’ scam, all those involved in it and their political affiliations.
Girirj Singh is the same person from whose private house over crore of rupees in cash had been seized by the police soon after the lok Sabha polls in 2014. During election, Singh has issued highly controversial statements including “Those who are against Narendra Modi should go to Pakistan.”
Despite the recent revelations about Singh there had been no reaction from the BJP.