Chhattisgarh Congress demands to book CM for corruption

RAIPUR: Stepping up its attack against the Raman Singh government in Chhattisgarh, opposition Congress on Wednesday demanded registration of cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act against the chief minister and four others in the wake of narco-analysis revelation by an accused in a bank fraud case that money was paid to them and others at a time when police was investigating the scam in 2006.
Reiterating the Congress demand for a probe by the CBI, senior Congress leader and former minister Mohammad Akbar told reporters that Raman Singh, his cabinet colleagues Brijmohan Agrawal, Rajesh Munat, Ram Vichar Netam and Amar Agrawal- whose names figured in the narco-test CD and its transcripts- were public servants under the definition of Prevention of Corruption Act.
"Despite accused naming top ruling party leaders in the government during the test, the state police did not make a mention about it in the charge-sheets filed in the court. None of the accused was questioned on the lines of the findings of the test," Akbar alleged and added that the police deliberately tried to hush-up the matter.
He said the state BJP leaders had unleashed propaganda, questioning the credibility of Dr Malini, who had conducted the narco-analysis test, claiming that she was dismissed from service. However, Akbar released the copies of high court order by which the forensic expert was reinstated in service.
"We are demanding a CBI inquiry into the bank scam and revelations that kickbacks were paid to the ruling party politicians to hush up the case. State police cannot do an impartial probe against chief minister and other powerful ministers," Akbar said.
State Congress programme coordinator Bhupesh Baghel, said the AICC general secretary B K Hariprasad and state Congress working president Dr Charandas Mahant would soon decide about meeting state governor Sekhar Dutt on the issue.
Meanwhile, opposition Congress workers are all set to gherao Raman Singh's official residence on Thursday, demanding his resignation, registration of a new FIR and handing over the probe to CBI.