The Calcutta High Court on Thursday dismissed a plea by three Jharkhand MLAs that the probe against them should be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation or any other independent probe agency. The MLAs were arrested on July 30 with Rs 49 lakh in cash and are in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department of the West Bengal Police. The legislators had also sought a stay on the ongoing investigation, which was also turned down by Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya.
Advocates appearing for the MLAs argued that since the case involved confiscation of cash, the matter should be probed by a central agency. The state government opposed the argument saying that the arrested and accused cannot decide on the investigating agency.
Three Congress MLAs from Jharkhand- Irfan Ansari, Rajesh Kachhap and Naman Bixal Kongari were arrested from Panchala in Howrah last week. His arrest had sparked a political controversy with the Congress alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party was trying to destabilize the elected government in Jharkhand. The Congress party has suspended the three MLAs.
On Wednesday, West Bengal CID officials alleged that they were not allowed to be searched by the Delhi Police despite a warrant by a court. A CID team had visited Delhi to search the premises of the man, identified as Siddharth Majumdar. On Thursday, the CID approached the Howrah Court for inclusion of more sections against the accused. Five people, including three MLAs, are in custody and will be produced before the court on August 10. The CID probe has also identified a Kolkata-based businessman who allegedly gave money to the MLAs. CID officials are questioning the businessman.