Another suspended Congress MLA appears before ED in cash haul case in Jharkhand

Suspended Jharkhand Congress MLA Naman Bixal Kongari was grilled for about 10 hours on Wednesday by Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in connection with the investigation into the seizure of Rs 49 crore cash in West Bengal from him and two other party legislators last year.

Kongari, after walking out of the ED regional office here, alleged that he was framed in the case and false allegations were leveled against him. On January 17, Kongari sought a two-week time to appear before the ED, citing mishandling of documents sought by the central agency. “I told the ED officials that I took the money from my friend and that the allegations against me are false,” Kongari told reporters after coming out of the ED office here.

Claiming that he was involved in the case, he called on Congress MLA Kumar Jaimangal Singh alias Anup Singh to provide evidence that he was involved in attempts to topple the government. Singh filed a complaint at Ranchi's Argora police station, alleging that three legislators offered him Rs 10 crore and a ministerial berth to topple the JMM-led government in Jharkhand.

The Enforcement Directorate particularly grilled two others suspended Congress MLAs Irfan Ansari and Rajesh Kachchap for more than 10 hours on Monday and Tuesday in connection with the cash seizure probe. Three legislators were arrested after their vehicle was intercepted on National Highway 16 at Panchla in West Bengal's Howrah district on July 30 last year and nearly Rs 49 crore in cash was found in the car. They were then suspended by the party.

The MLAs, who are now out on bail, alleged that the seized money was meant to buy sarees for an Adivasi festival in Jharkhand. The ED is investigating the money laundering aspect of the case.