Court petition against former Jharkhand governor

RANCHI - A public interest litigation has been filed against former Jharkhand governor Syed Sibte Razi in the high court for allegedly misusing his position during the President’s Rule in the state.

Ram Oraon, a resident of Ranchi, filed the PIL against Razi in the Jharkhand High Court Wednesday.

“The central government had put a ban on transfers and postings of officials during the President’s Rule. Government had put a condition that transfer could take place only after seeking permission from the central home ministry. Razi effected mass transfers of officials without seeking permission from the central government,” says the petition.

The petition also says that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided the houses of Razi’s personal secretary Rajesh Thakur and senior Indian Administrative Service official Avinash Kumar on Aug 3 for amassing wealth beyond their known sources of income.

Razi was removed from Jharkhand and made Assam governor in July this year.

The petition has demanded a CBI probe into Rizvi’s tenure.

Four former chief ministers of Jharkhand — Babulal Marandi, Arjun Munda, Madhu Koda and Shibu Soren — also face PILs for amassing assets allegedly disproportionate to income.

On Dec 15, the Jharkhand High Court had issued notices to Munda and state government to reply to the PIL.

Koda is in jail for his alleged involvement in a Rs.2,300-money laundering scam.

Besides Koda, his three former cabinet colleagues, Kamlesh Singh, Enos Ekka and Harinarayan Rai are in jail on corruption charges.