JVM to send evidence of Rajya Sabha horse-trading case to CBI

Jamshedpur: Jharkhand Vikas Morcha today dropped a bombshell by producing a pen drive reportedly containing evidence showing alleged involvement of Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Vidyut Varan in transactions worth Rs 1.5 crore in connection with the election of KD Singh as Rajya Sabha MP.

The sitting MP of Jamshedpur, Dr Ajoy Kumar said the pen drive containing 21 minute long recorded conversation between Pramod Pandey, driver of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leaders Sibu Soren and CM Hemant Soren, and another man. The man, reportedly an investigator, questioned Pandey on sources of cash transaction made by the culprits to ensure victory of KD Singh in the Rajya Sabha election held in Jharkhand.

�The CD has evidence of involvement of Vidyut Varan and others in the transactions meant to secure victory of KD Singh in the RS polls. He has spilled the beans about cash transfers and vehicles used in such transactions. There is sufficient evidence against the culprits in the horsetrading case. This is enough proof of complicity of Vidyut Varan in the illegal horsetrading activity,� said Kumar.

The JVM leader said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had not yet given a clean chit to Vidyut Varan Mahato, formerly a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader and MLA of Baharagora in the horsetrading case.

�Vidyut Varan is an accused in the horsetrading case. An investigation is still on against him. Since the CBI has not given clean chit to him, he is still not absolved of the charges,� said Kumar.

Asked about the source of the evidence, the JVM leader said, �The person who has given the pen drive will assist the CBI during investigation. But due to security reasons, the name of that person cannot be revealed now.�

Kumar said the CBI should interrogate Pramod Pandey and record his statement under Section 164 to bring out the truth before the court. He said the evidence contains several shocking revelations. He said he will bring the truth before the people of Jharkhand.

�Our party has got the evidence three to four days ago. It does not look like a sting operation. The other person talking to Pramod Pandey seems to be a police officer. A CBI probe should reveal further truth,� he said.
The JVM leader criticized BJP MLA from Jamshedpur East Raghuvar Das for �misleading� the people of the city. He said Das was happy putting roadblocks on the path of development projects in Jamshedpur.