Former Jharkhand minister sent to judicial custody

RANCHI - Former Jharkhand minister Bandhu Tirkey was Friday remanded in 14 days of judicial custody in a seven-year-old case of violating prohibitory orders.

Bandhu Tirkey is charged with violating section 144 of CrPC (criminal procedore code), which prohibits assembly of four or more, in 2002.

The order was issued in Bero and Lapung blocks of Ranchi after villagers launched an agitation to protest the government’s indifferent attitude towards attacks by elephants.

Tirkey is also facing charges of amassing wealth beyond his known sources of income. Tirkey became legislator first time in 2005 and was appointed state minister in October 2006.