The CBI on Wednesday arrested Harinarayan Rai, a former minister in the Cabinet of tainted former chief minister Madhu Koda as well as his wife Sushila Devi from Dumka following arrest warrant issued by the court in connection with disproportionate assets case in which both were sentenced with five years of rigorous imprisonment in December 2016.
A senior CBI official confirmed their arrest and said that they are being taken to Ranchi. They were produced before the court, after which they will be sent to Birsa Munda Central Jail.
“They had filed an appeal before the High Court against the judgment of the CBI court. The court granted them bail till the time petition was heard. On November 4 the High Court rejected their appeal and the next day arrest warrants were issued against them since with rejection of appeal the bail also expired. Knowing well that their appeal stands rejected they did not surrender and were evading arrest,” a senior CBI official informed The Pioneer.
Rai was convicted by the CBI court of B.K. Tiwari for amassing property worth Rs 1.46 crore, which was 94 per cent in excess of his known sources of income.
The CBI investigated his property between March 2005 and March 2009. In 2005, when Rai had first contested elections, his total assets were Rs 1.70 lakh. On March 31, 2009, his total income was around Rs 2.35 crore
His wife and brother Sanjay were also awarded the same sentence for abetment of crime. His wife and brother invested Rs 42 lakh and Rs 13 lakh in cash at a post office in 2008.
Rai lost the 2014 Assembly election from Jarmundi as the JMM nominee to Congress candidate Badal. But following his conviction in 2016 he was debarred hence he could not contest the 2019 assembly election.
Notably, Rai has been facing money laundering case also under investigation of the Enforcement Directorate.