Yours truly of masters remain vital links in corruption cases

VIJAY DEO JHA

Ranchi

There is a particular breed that stalks the corridors of power in Jharkhand with their collar-up shirt, flaunting ‘connections’ and proximity to their MLA and Minister bosses. Talking big, fast and loud, these personal assistants bask not in fame, but in its shadow. They are Man Fridays often assume mien of boss and bark in front of poor constituents but wag tail on mere summon of master.

But they have privy of closeness with their bosses that make many feel envy. But they know many a secrets and dirty details and designs of their bosses as well that makes them vulnerable too. In some of the cases they end mysteriously like Sashinath Jha (former PA of JMM chief Shibu Soren) and Hariom Jha (the man who made small time miner Madhu Koda into a mighty politician.) A couple of them like Manoj Singh (one time private assistant of Minister Chandra Prakash Chaudhary) made a swift rise in short span. His bank account swelled like his fat belly — Rs 12.54 crore, when Income Tax on October 15, 2009 conducted raids at his residences in Saran (Bihar) and Ranchi.

Their names prominently figure in dozens of Public Interest Litigations which were filed before the Jharkhand High Court to seek CBI investigation of corruption and disproportionate cases against former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda & Co.

Sample this: Atish Singh and Ajit Roshan Tete PA to former minister Ainosh Ekka who recently came out of jail on bail in corruption case, Sanjay Sinha former PA to former minister Harinarayan Roy who along with Ekka released on bail in corruption case, Vivek Raut and Manohar Paul former PA of JMM chief Shibu Soren, Gaznafar Imam PA to former minister Bandhu Tirkey and many more. If bosses allegedly minted money these PAs were not far behind in filling their own coffer by dubious dealings, if not all of them. But Sanjay Jha (former PA of Minister Bhanu Pratap Shahi) was known for flashy life style.  

“They are equal partners in crime. Now High Court has directed CBI to investigate about official and unofficial associates of these politicians,” senior lawyer Rajiv Kumar said.

 

Most of them are ambitious and hook their prospect with MLAs and ministers to make fast bucks. Old association and loyalty with their bosses are considered to be prerequisite to become PAs. But no such test on the integrity index. When Paul was hired by Soren as private secretary he was already dismissed from his job of the CMPDI for forging his engineer degree following the CBI investigation. He is facing charges of minting Rs 65 crore by misusing coal linkages.  

“We got bad name due to some unscrupulous people. There is loot in Jharkhand and they are looting their share. But not all of them are involved,” said a PA of a BJP MLA.

The CBI during investigation of horse trading case of March 30 Rajya Sabha was stunned to find out a good number of them having played an active role in fixing kickback deal of their MLA bosses with respective candidates. A couple of them allegedly got premium amounts for their service. The CBI zeroed in on a good number of them to elicit vital information. A couple of them like Vikash Singh, Vikash Pandey (former assistants of JMM MLA Sita Soren) turned CBI approver in the case.

Many of them are claiming innocence and feigning ignorance about any secret deal of their bosses during the Rajya Sabha elections.

“Very funny,” chortled a CBI official, “their excuse provides some comic relief…but they know a lot.”

There is no guarantee the Man Fridays will not be slaughtered to save lives of their bosses.