DA case: Five ministers of Raghuvar Cabinet in trouble; wealth increase 1100% in 5 years

Ranchi: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a PE (Preliminary Inquiry) against five ministers who were part of Raghuvar Das’s Cabinet in Jharkhand. The ACB has registered this PE against former ministers Neelkanth Singh Munda, Neera Yadav, Lewis Marandi, Randhir Singh and Amar Bauri.
The ACB has taken this action on the orders of Chief Minister Hemant Soren. It is alleged that the assets of these former ministers have increased by 200 to 1100 per cent from 2014 to 2019.
During the Cabinet meeting held on July 26, it was decided to file a PE against the above five former ministers for amassing disproportionate assets. The ACB has registered five separate PEs in the case. The PE will be later converted into an FIR against the former ministers and cases of disproportionate assets will be filed against these former ministers.
Subsequently, an investigation was ordered on the basis of PIL
In 2020, a PIL was filed in the Ranchi High Court in this regard demanding an investigation into the assets of the five former ministers. The applicant, Pankaj Kumar Yadav, had alleged that there was an unexpected increase in the income of the five while holding the post of minister in five years. Submitting proof, he made reference to the affidavit filed before the Election Commission regarding their properties. Later, the matter reached the Chief Minister who ordered an inquiry.
On the orders of the CM, the ACB filed an IA and verified that the five had disproportionate assets. The PIL on the basis of which the ACB registered an IA and investigated, it was said that Amar Bauri’s assets were 7.33 lakhs in the year 2014, which increased to 89.41 lakhs in 2019. On the other hand, Randhir Singh’s assets of 78.92 lakhs increased to 5.06 crores in the year 2019. Neera Yadav’s assets increased from 80.59 lakhs to 3.65 crores, Lewis Marandi’s assets from 2.25 crores to 9.06 crores, Neelkanth Singh Munda’s from 1.46 crores to 4.35 crores.
Former ministers whose property increased from 2014 to 2019:
• Amar Baori: Rs 7.33 lakh in 2014 to Rs 89.41 lakh in 2019
• Randhir Singh: Rs 78.92 lakh in 2014 to Rs 5.06 crore in 2019
• Neera Yadav: Rs 80.59 lakh in 2014 to Rs 3.65 crore in 2019
• Lewis Marandi: Rs 2.25 crore in 2014 to Rs 9.06 crore in 2019
• Neelkanth Munda: Rs 1.46 crore in 2014 to Rs 4.35 crore in 2019

(Source: As claimed in the PIL)