The State Government is yet to take action against ADG (Special Branch) Anurag Gupta and then Political Advisor (now Press Advisor) of the CM Ajay Kumar, even after Election Commissions (EC) directed to take immediate action against them. The EC in its letter, sent to the Chief Secretary with regards to the Rajya Sabha elections held last year, has found the duo prima facie guilty for ‘misusing their official positions, interference in elections and breach of conduct, service rules’.
The Commission, in the letter issued in June 13, also directed the State Government to initiate proceedings under the prevention of Corruption Act and Sections 171B and 171C of IPC might also be initiated. The letter, however, came into public domain on June 20 on WhatsApp which later became viral among the people.
The officials, however, are tightlipped on the issue and claimed that the process of taking action on the duo had already been started. “The process has already been started and is likely to take some time,” said a top official in the State Government requesting anonymity.
Incidentally, both the officials pointed out by the EC, come under the Departments headed by Chief Minister Raghubar Das himself. Gupta is a police official which comes under Home Department while Ajay Kumar is working under Cabinet Coordination Department, kept by Das.
Meanwhile, after filing an interlocutory petition at Jharkhand High Court demanding proper investigations, anti-corruption crusader Durga Oraon has sought appointment from Governor Droupadi Murmu to hand over a memorandum asking her to intervene in this regard.
“I will also write for appointments to the President and Prime Minister,” said Oraon who had filed a Public Interest litigation (PIl) Jharkhand High Court demanding CBI inquiry into the charges of horse-trading during the June 11 Rajya Sabha elections after JVM (P) chief Babulal Marandi, few days after the election, had released a CD as an evidence containing purported call records along with video footage of Chief Minister Raghubar Das, ADG (Special Branch) Anurag Gupta and Ajay Kumar.
According to the call record transcript, provided at a press conference by Babulal Marandi, Gupta assured Congress leader Yogendra Sao of a better political future, saying the Raghubar Das government would be in power for long.
Coming into action immediately, the Opposition parties on the other hand, have sought Chief Minister Raghubar Das’ resignation. They also demanded resignation from Rajya Sabha MPs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Mahesh Poddar, who had been elected in the biennial elections.