The vigilance Bureau on Wednesday through an undertaking at the Jharkhand High Court assured that the bureau will complete the investigation in Seeds scam within the next three months.
The court had asked the Vigilance SP and investigating officer (IO) in the case to appear personally and give explanation for delaying the investigations in the seeds scam. “SP Rajkumar lakra and DSP Shailesh Burnwal who is also the IO in the case, appeared before the court and gave an undertaking to compete the investigation within 3 months,” said advocate Manoj Kumar Chaubey.
Meanwhile, the bureau will have to file the status report in presence of the two officers on September 3. Former Agricultural Minister Nalin Soren and nine others are accused in the Seeds scam. JMM MlA Nalin Soren was booked for allowing financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 45 crore while buying implements, vegetable seeds, fertilizers and pesticides far in excess of what was required during his tenures as agriculture minister between 2006 and 2008.
Nalin, who was state agriculture minister in the governments of Madhu Koda and Shibu Soren during October 2006 -August 2008 and September 2008 - January 2009 respectively, had ordered the purchase of vegetable seeds, fertilizers, pesticides in huge quantities far in excess of what was needed. The seeds, allegedly bought from private firms like M/s Nefed and M/s Naramake, were later found to be of poor quality.
In February, the Vigilance bureau had issued arrest warrants against Nalin and nine others — Rajesh Kumar Singh, Anjani Kumar Mishra, Arun Kumar, Piyush Kujoor, Anil Kumar, Dinesh Prasad, Aniruddh Kumar, Ajeshwar Prasad Singh and Bhavesh Thakur. Nalin surrendered before Jagannthpur Police Station ahead of the trust vote at Jharkhand Assembly on July 18.