The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested RK Agrawal, one of the prime accused in the cash-for-vote scam during Rajya Sabha elections-2012.
The CBI had been looking for Agrawal after his bail was cancelled by the Special court (CBI) on May 7 and was arrested near the Jharkhand High Court.
later, he was produced before the Special CBI judge RK Chaudhary at his residence, who sent him in judicial custody for 14 days.
Agrawal, along with another Independent candidate Pawan Kumar Dhoot, has been under the scanner for allegedly using unaccounted money to induce MlAs in exchange for their votes.
Agrawal, who is president of Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was linked to the car that was seized by the police in Namkum on the outskirts of Ranchi on March 30, 2012 after `2.15 crore cash was found inside. The Election Commission countermanded the elections following the recovery of huge cash.
Police, thereafter, had filed FIRs against three — Agrawal’s son-in-law Saumitra Shah, owner of Shah Sponge and Power limited, his employee, Sudhanshu Tripathy who was in the car with the cash along with driver Nanku Ram.
Following a PIl filed by activist of Durga Oraon, the High Court then directed the CBI to take up investigations.
The special CBI court on May 7 had cancelled the bail of Agrawal, earlier granted by a lower court on April 9, followed by a criminal miscellaneous application filed by the CBI to cancel his bail.
The Jharkhand High Court had also raised questions over the functioning of CBI after Agrawal managed to secure bail from the lower court despite being a prime accused in the case.
Agrawal, who owns as big business empire in Jamshedpur, was also charged of giving Rs 50 lakh to the JMM legislator Sita Soren for getting her vote in the Rajya Sabha Elections.
A CBI official believed that Agrawal’s arrest will help the agency to conclude the investigation and file the chargesheet soon. The agency, during the last hearing, has promised in the high court to file the chargesheet within a fortnight.
“Agrawal is a prime catch for us. Since, the case was initiated from him, it will help us to establish the scam in the court,” said a CBI official requesting anonymity.