Last Update: February 09, 2023, 08:47 IST
Kongari, after coming out of the ED’s regional office here, claimed that he was framed and falsely accused in the case. (Representational Image/ News18)
Notably, the Enforcement Directorate questioned two other suspended Congress MLAs Irfan Ansari and Rajesh Kachhap for over 10 hours on Monday and Tuesday respectively in connection with the cash seizure probe.
Suspended Jharkhand Congress MLA Naman Bixal Kongari was on Wednesday interrogated by Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials for nearly 10 hours in connection with the central agency’s probe into the seizure of Rs 49 lakh in cash from him and two other party MLAs in West Bengal last year. Questioned. ,
Kongari, after coming out of the ED’s regional office here, claimed that he was framed and falsely accused in the case.
On January 17, Kongari had sought two weeks’ time to appear before the ED citing non-arrangement of documents sought by the central agency.
“I told the ED officials that I have taken money from my friend and the allegations against me are false,” Kongari told reporters after coming out of the ED office here.
He claimed that he has been implicated in the matter and challenged Congress MLA Kumar Jaimangal Singh alias Anoop Singh to provide proof that he was involved in efforts to topple the government.
Singh lodged a complaint at the Argora police station in Ranchi, alleging that three MLAs had offered him Rs 10 crore and a ministerial berth to topple the JMM-led government in Jharkhand.
Notably, the Enforcement Directorate questioned two other suspended Congress MLAs Irfan Ansari and Rajesh Kachhap for over 10 hours on Monday and Tuesday respectively in connection with the cash seizure probe.
On July 30 last year, the three MLAs were arrested after their vehicle was intercepted on National Highway 16 at Panchla in West Bengal’s Howrah district and around Rs 49 lakh in cash was found in the car. After this he was suspended by the party.
The legislators, who are now out on bail, claimed that the seized money was meant to buy sarees for a tribal festival in Jharkhand.
The ED is probing the money laundering aspect of the case.
The case was initially investigated by the police and later handed over to the state CID.
The Congress is part of the Hemant Soren government in the state.
The ED had questioned Singh for over nine hours in connection with the case in December last year.
Singh had claimed that he was summoned not as an accused but as a complainant in the case.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)