Jitan Ram Manjhi’s son detained after cash found in car ahead of Bihar polls

Suman told police he was carrying the cash for construction of a house in the state capital. The 32-year-old does not hold any position in his father’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) party.

Jitan R Manjhi’s son detained by police in Jehanabad, Bihar(In pic:Car from which son was detained, Cash recovered) pic.twitter.com/xKK6AH2vpM

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 13, 2015

Suman was stopped at the Gaya-Jehanabad check post near Umta village by the Maqdumpur police for a regular search, when the money was reportedly found.

A police officer said, “We found the cash from Praveen during a routine search, conducted since the model code of conduct for elections has come into force.” Cash up to Rs 20,000 can be carried during this time without inviting any action.

Money recovered above that, the officer said, can be returned to the party concerned only after it has furnished relevant papers before a three-member committee, which comprises a member each from the Election Commission, district administration and Income Tax department.

HAM (S) spokesperson Danish Rizwan said, “Manjhiji’s son had withdrawn the cash from a bank for construction of a house that the former CM is building in Hanuman Nagar area of Patna. The state government has put spies behind the family of Manjhiji. We will produce all the related documents for the cash.”

Noting that such raids were being held in all parts of the state, an Election Commission official they would not comment on an isolated case.

The cash recovery comes at a time when Manjhi is trying to bargain hard with the NDA alliance for seats. Sources said RJD chief Lalu Prasad has been pressuring Manjhi to walk out of the NDA group, to their side. Sources said a senior RJD leader had tried to approach Manjhi through a Dalit bureaucrat.

The five-phase Bihar Assembly elections will begin from October 12.