BJP seeks ED probe against ‘tainted’ officer

Ranchi: The top leadership of the state unit of BJP on Thursday urged the directorate of enforcement (ED) sleuths to conduct a probe into senior IAS officer Rajiv Arun Ekka’s association with Vishal Choudhary for reported money laundering and illegal earnings.
A BJP delegation drove down to the ED’s regional office located on Airport Road on Thursday and handed over a memorandum to the officials along with a pen drive, containing a video clip that allegedly shows Ekka disposing off government files in a private office that belong to one Vishal Choudhary.
In its memorandum, BJP also claimed that confidential files from Ekka’s department were taken to Choudhary’s office from the secretariat. “While Choudhary called up the beneficiaries, Ekka signed the documents in Choudhary’s office in which money was already extorted,” it stated.
The party alleged that since Ekka was the secretary in the home department and also principal secretary to chief minister Hemant Soren, he placed all the files before the CM for the latter’s signature. “Under this circumstance, how is it possible that the CM is unaware that important files are being taken to a private office? If Choudhary’s cut money is being distributed up the ladder, then it is a matter of investigation,” the memorandum read.
BJP also claimed that Ekka’s act was, in turn, a clear violation of the oath of secrecy which Soren took while assuming the office of CM. “The possibility of confidential and sensitive information of the government reaching terrorists, criminals, and left wing extremists through middlemen cannot be ruled out,” it stated.
The signatories, including former chief minister Babulal Marandi, BJP state president Deepak Prakash, and state women’s wing president Gangotri Kujur, also alleged that Ekka and Choudhary had deep ties. “Together, the duo has crores of rupees and acquired ‘benaami’ properties in Ranchi, across different states, and even overseas. Hence, Choudhary must be questioned,” the party stressed. The civil servant, who was transferred to the department of panchayati raj earlier this week after Marandi made the clip public, did not respond to TOI’s calls and messages.