Recovery of huge amount of cash and other valuables purportedly stolen from the house of BJP MP Giriraj Singh today triggered ruckus in both Houses of Bihar Legislature and the state police said it might interrogate the leader in course of the investigation.
"We can say about the source of money only after the investigation is over. The police may interrogate Giriraj Singh if needed. He is in Delhi and we will decide on that once he returns from there," Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Gupteshwar Pandey told reporters.
A break-in into the flat of the Nawada MP located in posh Boring Road under Srikrishna Puri police station here took place on Monday, while he was away in Delhi to attend Parliament session.
Police yesterday recovered from an autorickshaw Rs 1.14 crore in cash, 600 US dollars, gold and silver jewellery and six luxury watches purportedly stolen from Singh's flat after arresting four persons, including his bodyguard and servant.
But the police were facing a problem to find the real owners of the cash and valuables with no claimants in sight till now.
"The FIR regarding the theft was lodged by an acquaintance of Singh. He didn't provide details about the stolen goods. We are yet to be contacted by the MP regarding the cash," added Pandey.
Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj told PTI that the police have written to the Enforcement Directorate requesting it to investigate the case.
He said some of the currency wads bore seal of a nationalised bank's branch located at Imphal in Manipur.
The four arrested persons were produced before the district court today which remanded them to judicial custody.
The police were now planning to take the four on remand for interrogation, as in the preliminary investigations they had claimed that the cash and the US dollars were purportedly stolen from the MP's house.
The SSP said, the MP's wife has written to the police claiming that the ornaments belonged to her. But, nobody has come forward to claim the cash and US dollar, he said.
Singh, who is in Delhi, could not be contacted despite several attempts as his mobile was found to be switched off.
The issue rocked both Houses of Bihar Legislature today with JD(U), RJD and Congress staging protest alleging that the cash recovered from the arrested persons was black money.
The parties also demanded arrest of Singh and termination of his Parliament membership.
Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi who was in Assembly at that time later told reporters that the state government has taken cognisance of recovery of cash and valuables purportedly stolen from Giriraj Singh's flat on July 7 and would act according to law.
Former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed surprise over the volume of cash and US dollar which were recovered.
"The volume is big. It raises question as from where did it come?" Kumar told reporters.
JD(U) MLAs sat on dharna at the main entrance of the Assembly demanding immediate arrest of Singh demanding the state government act against him under provisions of anti-corruption laws, confiscate his properties and convert it into school for poor as has been its policy.
Similar was the scene in Legislative Council.
The BJP, however, described it as "non-issue" and assailed the ruling party for disrupting both the Houses over the matter.
"State government has all the power to probe such a matter. So why its members are disrupting proceedings of the two Houses?" leader of opposition in Legislative Council Sushil Kumar Modi told reporters.
He laughed at the JD(U) demand for termination of membership of Parliament of Giriraj Singh saying "can membership go on such an issue?"
Meanwhile, Income Tax department which has also joined probe into recovery of huge currency is keeping a close watch over progress of police investigation.
"We are keeping in touch with Patna police in the case," Director (Investigation), Income Tax, Bihar and Jharkhand, Kumar Sanjay told PTI.
"Once its established in police investigation as who is owner of the cash, the Income Tax will see if tax has been paid on it or not," the IT Director said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}