Ranchi: Former agriculture minister Yogendra Sao was forwarded to judicial custody following his production in a Hazaribagh court in connection with the case of his alleged links with the outlawed outfit Jharkhand Tigers Group.
Sao was sent to Jai Prakash Narayan Central Jail. He will be produced in the court again tomorrow with four other accused in the case. One of the co-accused in the case is Rajkumar Sao, alleged kingpin of Jharkhand Tigers Group, who had exposed Sao’s Naxalite links before interrogators following his arrest recently.
Sao was arrested in New Delhi on 5th October last by a team of CID. On arriving at Ranchi airport, he complained of ache in his ears and stomach. He was taken to Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS). The court was informed about Sao’s hospitalization. The court had ordered the CID to ensure production of the former minister in the court by 2 pm on 8th October (today).
It may be mentioned here that the Jharkhand Tigers Group kingpin had said in his statement recorded under Section 164 of CRPC that the outfit had received patronage from the former minister. Sao had provided arms and financial assistance to the Naxalite group which had extorted levy from businessmen and contractors.
The former agriculture minister and Congress MLA resigned from his post on 12th September. An arrest warrant was issued against him on 14th September last by the Hazaribagh court. Sao went traceless after his resignation only to be arrested on 5th October.