JVM supremo Babulal Marandi today sought CBI investigation into six of his party MlAs switching to the BJP soon after the Assembly elections in 2015 alleging corrupt practices involved. The former chief minister put the demand before Governor Droupadi Murmu and presented a letter as proof of the money trail allegedly taken place.
The letter dated January 19, 2015 is said to be of then Jharkhand BJP president Ravindra Kumar Rai and addressed to party’s national president Amit Shah. Rai, referring to then State BJP in-charge Trivendra Singh Rawat’s order, had reportedly quoted the money to be given to the six legislators elected on JVM’s ticket in lieu of their joining the BJP along with the facilitators and observers.
“I have submitted the evidence to the Governor. The letter signed by Ravindra Rai has clearly the names of Ganesh Ganjhu, Randhir Singh, Navin Jaiswal, Alok Kumar Chaurasia and Janki Prasad Yadav who were given Rs two crore and Amar Kumar Bauri who was paid Rs one crore. Total Rs 11 crore was to be paid in cash after 36 months of their joining the party,” said Marandi speaking to press persons after meeting the Governor on Friday.
He said that there was no second thought in his mind about the money changed hands in the case but with this evidence coming to light now the culpability has been proved beyond any doubt.
“I had met the Governor earlier as well. Now the letter has come bearing names of Ravindra Rai, Trivendra Singh Rawat (present Uttarakhand Chief Minister) and Chief Minister Raghubar Das along with several other top BJP leaders. There is clear mention about Rs 11 crore which was agreed to be given to the MlAs. This proves beyond any doubt that the defection had taken place for money which is a grave crime in a democratic system like ours. I have demanded from the Governor to order lodging FIR against the names mentioned in the letter, termination of the MlAs membership from the House, dismissal of the Chief Minister and handover the entire matter to the CBI for a through probe,” said the JVM leader.
Marandi along with the memorandum given to the Governor also attached a copy of the said letter bearing names of Ravindra Rai and all the other leaders said to be involved into the matter.
Nevertheless the BJP terming the said letter fake has sought apology from Marandi. “The letter Babulal Marandi has submitted to the Governor is fake. Ravindra Rai was State BJP president at that time but the letter pad is bearing his designation as national vice-president of Kisan Morcha. He has tried to create sensation through the letter. He should apologise to the Governor and the people for misleading them,” said party spokesperson Pratul Sahadeo and threatened to explore other options if Marandi failed to do so.