Former Jharkhand minister sent to judicial custody

RANCHI: A special vigilance court today sent former Jharkhand minister and NCP leader Kamlesh Singh to 14 days judicial custody in connection with a disproportionate assets case.

Singh, who was arrested at Hussainabad in Palamau district by the vigilance police yesterday, was produced before the court of Binoy Kant Khan.

The court, however, granted his plea to allow him to file nomination papers from Hussainabad Assembly seat as Tuesday is the last day to file the papers.

The court directed him to return soon after filing the papers.

Polls in Hussainabad will be held on the fifth and final phase on December 18.

Singh is the fourth minister, including former Chief Minister Madhu Koda in whose ministry he was a member, to be sent to judicial custody by the same court.

Yesterday the court had ordered Koda a similar remand after his arrest from Chaibasa.

Former ministers Enos Ekka and Harinarayan Rai are already in judicial custody after they surrendered before the court about a couple of months ago.

All of them are facing charges of disproportionate assets during their ministerial tenure from 2005 to 2008.