RJD dirt may hurt: police have records on a third Minister

‘‘Documents show that in several cases of kidnapping and extortion, the Bihar police wanted to investigate the links of Fatmi with mafia leaders who are members of Dawood Ibrahim’s network,’’ Azad has alleged. ‘‘This was not done because the RJD was in power.’’

Since his new office isn’t ready yet, Fatmi spent most of the day today camped at Janpath Hotel. When contacted by The Indian Express, he said the allegations were the result of a ‘‘conspiracy of a clique of Bihar police officials.’’

‘‘There is no case which was booked against me or any member of my family, he said. ‘‘If the police had all he evidence that BJP leaders are claiming, why didn’t they question me? They could have done it in the brief period of President’s rule.’’

These police records, dating back to 1998, when Fatmi was MP from Darbhanga show that besides Bihar, the same gang of kidnappers operated in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka as well. Some specific kidnappings done in Kutch, Bangalore and Pune are also referred to. The allegations, as mentioned in the police records:

• In some cases, criminals demanding ransom received and made telephone calls to Fatmi.

• Interrogation of the suspects in a Muzaffarpur case (many of whom were arrested and later let off on bail) showed that Fatmi had supplied them a fax machine.

• Police allege that with Fatmi’s backing, criminals had threatened to eliminate a senior police officer.

The Deputy Superintendent of Darbhanga is quoted in the records as saying: ‘‘In apradhkarmiyon ka sambandh tatkaleen sansad Shri Fatmi se tha aur in logon ke haiseyat ko dekhte huye yeh mumkin/sambhav hai ki SP ki jaan marne ki shadyantra ko safal bana sakein (These criminals had links with the sitting MP, Fatmi, and seeing the clout of these people, it was possible that a conspiracy to kill the SP may succeed).’’

The DSP suggested that the CID Patna investigate Fatmi’s role.

While Fatmi says his role was never formally inquired into, Azad says the reason was clear: there’s an RJD government in Patna. He said that the Congress should order a re-investigation of the charges against Fatmi.