Former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi's son detained with Rs 4.65 lakh

JEHANABAD: In a major embarrassment for ex-Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi ahead of Bihar polls, his son Praveen Kumar was today detained by the police after he was allegedly found carrying Rs 4.65 lakh in cash in a car.

During routine checking of vehicles, the police intercepted a car at Gaya-Jehanabad check post near Umta village and seized Rs 4.65 lakh in cash from Manjhi's son Praveen Kumar who was on his way to Patna from Gaya, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Md. Ashfaq Ansari said.

Kumar was detained and taken to Makdumpur police station for questioning after he failed to give a satisfactory reply about the purpose for carrying the cash, he said.

Senior police and civil officials have gone to Makdumpur police station to question Kumar, Ansari said.

Manjhi, the former chief minister, who is also the President of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), is in New Delhi for seat-sharing talks with BJP.

The five-phase Bihar Assembly election will begin from October 12 and counting of votes will take place on November 8.

Kumar said he was going to Patna from Gaya with Rs 4.65 lakh for construction work being carried out in his house.

"I was going to Patna from Gaya. The amount was Rs 4.65 lakh.

"I was taking this money to build our house. At our house in Hanuman Nagar in Patna, some construction work is going on. I had taken this money from my brothers," he told reporters.