A CBI Court on Wednesday sentenced former Urban Development Minister Harinarayan Rai, his wife Sushila Devi and brother Sanjay Rai, for five years and also slapped a fine of `50,000 against each of them in a Disproportionate Assets case.
Rai was one of the three Independent legislators who had toppled the BJP government led by Arjun Munda in 2006, facilitating formation of the government led by Madhu Koda, an Independent member of the assembly.
Rai was a minister from 2005 to 2009 in three governments led by Arjun Munda, Madhu Koda and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren.
“The CBI had filed a chargesheet against Rai, his wife Sushila Devi and brother Sanjay Rai alleging that they have accumulated Rs 1.5 crore of property more than the known sources of income,” said Rai’s advocate Bidhyut Chaurasia. He, however, said that they will file an appeal petition in the High Court for relief.
The advocate further said that as many as 91 witnesses were examined during the trial from prosecution side, while 5 witnesses were produced from the defense side.
“The court of Special CBI Judge Bal Krishna Tiwari pronounced the sentences after finding them guilty under Sections 13 (2) read with 13 (1) (C) of PC Act and Section 109 of IPC,” said the advocate.
The CBI also alleged that during his tenure as a minister in the State Government, Rai accumulated huge property in the name of his wife and brother in Ranchi and Deoghar as well. It was also alleged that Rai purchased a plot and constructed a house in posh Harmu Housing Colony of Ranchi.
“Huge property was accumulated by Rai in Deoghar and his village Sonaraithari which includes a dairy farm in Deoghar in the name of his wife, large house at Sonraithari in Jarmundi and several plots in Deoghar in the name of his brother. Rai also purchased rifles and pistols in his name,” stated the prosecution.
Defense advocate Chaurasia tried to minimize the sentence, saying that the wife and brother did not do anything with the income of the minister, hence the Court may adopt a lenient view in their case which was opposed by the CBI advocate, saying that all the three accumulated huge properties illegally in their name, therefore, harsh punishment must be given to all of them so that a positive message gets propagated among the masses.
The case was filed against Rai with the Vigilance Court while he was a minister in the State Government while a formal FIR was filed against him after Court’s order under different sections of Anti-Corruption Bureau in 2009. Rai then surrendered before the Court on August 17, 2009 following which the matter was handed over to the CBI in the year 2010 after the High Court’s order.
“The CBI then started investigations after lodging an FIR in the case in August 2010. The chargesheet was filed in January 2012,” said the advocate.
Rai, on the other hand, alleged that he had been framed by the CBI and said that he will approach the High Court.
“I have full faith in Judiciary and believe that the High Court will give clean cheat to me in this case,” said Rai.