Ranchi, July 19 (Inditop.com) Two former ministers in Jharkhand, evading arrest on graft charges and declared proclaimed offenders by the court, continue to enjoy security as police officials are unable to contact the personnel guarding them and order them to return.
The vigilance department had written to police headquarters last week, requesting them to withdraw the security of Enos Ekka and Harinarayan Rai, who are both hiding since June 27 when a vigilance court had issued arrest warrants against them.
Ekka and Rai enjoy security cover in capacity of being former Ministers, with both being provided eight security personnel each. Four of these are bodyguards, while the remaining personnel are to guard their houses.
“We have written to the superintendents of police (SP) concerned to withdraw the security cover of both former ministers,” P.R.K. Naidu, Inspector General of Police, Special Branch – which decides the security cover of VIPs including ministers and former ministers – told IANS.
However, the district police officials say that they were unable to contact the bodyguards of the former ministers. “We can only direct them to return to police lines only after we contact them,” said a police official.
Vigilance officials Saturday put up notices at the official residences of Rai and Ekka declaring them proclaimed offenders.
The state vigilance department filed cases of corruption and amassing wealth through illegal means against the two after assets worth Rs.3.73 crore were found with Ekka and Rs.1.16 crore with Rai.
