NOTICE ON 4 INCLUDING BIMA BHARATI IN HORSE TRADING CASE IN BIHAR

NOTICE ON 4 INCLUDING BIMA BHARATI IN HORSE TRADING CASE IN BIHAR

15-JULY-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA-------------------------The investigation of the Economic Offences Unit is going on in the conspiracy of horse-trading of MLAs during the no-confidence motion of Nitish government in February 2024 last year. The unit has given notice to four people including former MLA and RJD leader Bima Bharti in this case and called them to the office on July 21 for questioning. Which also includes Sanjay Patel, Pramod Kumar and Sunny Kumar. There was an attempt to stop these people from reaching the assembly during the no-confidence motion. In this case, the EOU has questioned RJD leader E Sunil of Sonpur. There is a preparation to call him again for questioning.

In this case, an FIR was registered in Kotwali police station on 11 February 2024 on the complaint of JDU MLA Sudhanshu Kumar. In view of the sensitivity, the matter was later transferred to the EOU. In the FIR lodged, the JDU MLA had alleged that many NDA MLAs were offered ministerial posts and Rs 10 crore each to vote in favour of the Grand Alliance.

In this FIR, the JDU MLA had also lodged a complaint against Engineer Sunil for kidnapping MLAs Bima Bharti and Dilip Rai through his associates by intimidating them, so that both vote in favour of the Grand Alliance. On getting evidence of large-scale money transactions in this case, the state government had also recommended an investigation by the ED.

This case is related to the political upheaval of February 2024 when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar broke ties with the Grand Alliance and returned to the NDA. During that time, amid the no-confidence motion brought by the opposition, the allegations of horse-trading of MLAs and influencing voting behaviour had gained momentum. This action of the EOU is being considered an important step in the official investigation of those serious allegations.