Former Jharkhand minister refused bail in graft case

RANCHI - A special vigilance court Friday rejected the bail petition of former Jharkhand minister Enos Ekka, arrested in a graft case.

Special Vigilance Judge Vinay Kant Khan refused Ekka bail as the charges were serious in nature.

The court had heard the petition Sep 1 but had reserved its judgment.

According to sources close to Ekka, his bail petition will be soon moved in the Jharkhand High court.

The court had Aug 29 rejected the bail petition of another former minister Harinarayan Rai, who too was arrested on similar charges.

Ekka and Rai had surrendered in the court Aug 17, after evading arrest for more then a month and a half after the vigilance court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against them June 27.

Vigilance sleuths say the department has found assets worth Rs.3.73 crore with Ekka and Rs 1.16 crore with Rai. In November, the vigilance department filed a first information report against the two ministers, charging them with embezzling public funds, amassing wealth illegally and conspiracy.