DA case: In Jharkhand, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a PE (Preliminary Inquiry) against five ministers who served in the cabinet of Raghuvar Das. This PE has been filed against former ministers Neelkanth Singh Munda, Neera Yadav, Lewis Marandi, Randhir Singh, and Amar Bauri by the ACB.
This action was conducted by the ACB at the direction of Chief Minister Hemant Soren. From 2014 to 2019, it is alleged that the assets of these former ministers have increased by 200 to 1,100 percent.
During the July 26 Cabinet meeting, it was resolved to file a PE against the aforementioned five former ministers for amassing excessive assets. In this case, the ACB has registered five separate PEs. The PE will be converted into a FIR and cases of disproportional assets will be lodged against former ministers.
Consequently, an investigation was mandated based on PIL.
More than 6,800 corruption cases probed by CBI pending trial in courts, 313 for over 20 years: CVC
Details:
In 2020, the Ranchi High Court was presented with a PIL requesting an investigation into the assets of the five former ministers. The applicant, Pankaj Kumar Yadav, alleged that the ministers’ incomes had increased unexpectedly during their five-year tenure in office. As evidence, he cited the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission regarding their properties. The matter eventually reached the Chief Minister, who ordered an investigation.
On the command of the CM, the ACB filed an IA and confirmed that the five had excessive assets. Amar Bauri’s assets increased from 7.33 lakhs in 2014 to 89.41 lakhs in 2019, according to the PIL on the basis of which the ACB registered a FIR and conducted an investigation.
Five ministers in DA case
Former ministers whose property increased from 2014 to 2019:
Amar Baori: from Rs 7.33 lakh in 2014 to Rs 89.41 lakh in 2019;
Randhir Singh: from Rs 78.92 lakh in 2014 to Rs 5.06 crore in 2019;
Neera Yadav: from Rs 80.59 lakh in 2014 to Rs 3.65 crore in 2019;
Lewis Marandi: from Rs 2.25 crore in 2014 to Rs 9.06 crore in 2019;
