Topper scam: Banks asked to freeze accounts of accused

Patna: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Bihar intermediate topper scam on Wednesday asked the authorities of several banks to freeze the accounts of the accused. The SIT has so far arrested 21 persons in connection with the scam, including the intermediate (arts) topper Ruby Roy, former chairman of the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, his wife and former JD(U) MLA from Hilsa Usha Sinha, director-cum-principal of Vishun Roy College Bachcha Roy, former BSEB secretary Hariharnath Jha and others.

Patna City SP Chandan Kushwaha, who is heading the SIT in absence of SSP Manu Maharaaj, said, “We have requested the authorities of banks to provide us the transaction details of all the accused. Banks have also been asked to freeze their accounts.” Asked about reported arrest of another former BSEB secretary, Kushwaha said, “We have so far arrested only one former BSEB secretary and he is Hariharnath Jha.”

The SIT had earlier arrested five of the 13 members of Vishun Roy Education Trust. The rest are evading arrest. Three of the four toppers and their parents are also absconding. The SIT has requested a local court for proclamation notices against the absconding toppers and their parents.

The SIT has also urged the court to issue arrest warrant against Vivek Ranjan, the son-in-law of Lalkeshwar. Vivek is the son of former vice chancellor of Magadh University Arun Kumar. Lalkeshwar had allegedly engaged Vivek in printing the confidential documents of BSEB. A tender of Rs 4 crore per annum for printing of answer sheets was awarded to Mathura Printers and Publishers for two consecutive years – 2015 and 2016. A SIT team on Wednesday raided the house of Arun Kumar at New Patliputra Colony, but Vivek was not found.