Business concerns, mines, real estate companies and hotels in Dubai, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. Sounds like the profile of a business tycoon? Well, it’s not. These assets illegally belong to two former cabinet ministers in the Jharkhand government.
Hari Narayan Rai and Enos Ekka, who were cabinet ministers in the government of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda (2006-2008), are now in judicial custody. Their wives Sushila Devi and Menon Ekka are also under scrutiny.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) booked the two for money-laundering and amassing assets disproportionate to their income. “The ED sought prosecution sanction against the two ministers which has been granted,” a senior finance ministry official told DNA.
The ED swung into action after the Jharkhand vigilance department lodged a complaint. The vigilance department had recently raided the homes of the three former ministers, including Koda.
After a case was filed on September 4, the ED arrested the duo along with the other accused. The directorate is also likely to lodge a case against Koda. Rai was minister for town development and tourism while Ekka was in-charge of the rural development ministry.
“Investigations revealed that they had mines, real estate companies and even huge hotels in their names,” a senior finance ministry official said. When Rai filed his nomination papers in 2005, his income was not taxable. As per ED’s calculation of his declared income from 2005-2008, his monthly income was in the range of Rs39,000-48,000. On the basis of this income, his assets should not exceed Rs15.39 lakh, experts said. But, in reality, he has amassed properties worth a staggering Rs30.18 crore in three years.
Ekka’s story is equally stunning. After becoming minister, he reportedly floated a construction company and got it registered with the rural development ministry to legalise his illegal income. “He then began purchasing land around Ranchi, including a 30-acre-plot valued at around Rs55 crore,” a senior finance ministry official said.
Ekka also built a bungalow costing nearly Rs2.50 crore in Ranchi on the posh airport road. His wife Menon purchased several properties in the names of tribals by submitting forged addresses.
