There is trouble ahead for Akil-ur-Rahman, claimant of the Rs 21.9 lakh raid money seized on April 7 from a hotel ahead of the municipal elections. He will have to answer several tough questions concerning the money, which he claims to have collected from some renowned businessmen of the city.
Rahman may testify as witness against some political heavyweights who are yet to be named and will, himself, definitely land in jail.
“If this is a genuine claim, then he must be booked under Sections 171 A, B, C of the Indian Penal Code, for which there is provision of imprisonment of one year,” said Jharkhand High Court senior advocate Rajeev Kumar.
According to Kumar, investigation is along lines of whether Rahman collected the money before this election, if his so-called committee is genuine and why he made a claim to the cash stash after four days.
“If AK Gupta, who is said to the mentor of the committee, was present in the hotel as seen in the CCTV footage, why he did not claim the money then and there, before the police, on April 7IJ Rahman has been planted to save Subodh Kant Sahay and his brother Sunil, who were caught on camera,” said Kumar.
Some senior police officials also believe Rahman has landed himself in a deep trap as the source of the money is still doubtful. The police will ask for a list of businessmen donors. They will also want to know who Rahman is and how his committee is empowered to distribute money to civic election candidates.
“Rahman will also have to provide answers to the income tax department, which will demand a money receipt from the donors. Collecting money for any cause without receipt itself is an offence,” said a senior police officer, requesting anonymity.
An application had been filed in the court of the Judicial Magistrate on Friday by Rahman, claiming right on the seized money and requesting the court to release the amount as the polls were over. Rahman has been associated with the Congress for a long time and is said to be close to Ranchi MP Subodh Kant Sahay.