Sibu Soren had strong motive for murder of PA: CBI

New Delhi, Nov 21 (UNI) Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Sibu Soren had a strong motive to get rid of his former personal assistant Shashinath Jha, the Central Bureau of Investigation today told the court of Additional Sessions Judge BR Kedia.

Appearing for the CBI, AK Singh submitted that Shashinath Jha was killed because he had been asking for more money than granted from the booty of Rs 60 lakh allegedly paid to the JMM MPs for their 'favourable' vote on the floor of Lok Sabha.

According to the CBI, Mr Soren had asked his CA Sushil Kumar to deposit the money in his Punjab National Bank account at Noroji Nagar branch.

Apparently, Shashinath Jha was unaware about this. However, he managed to get the details about the money from Mr Soren's CA Mr Kumar under the influence of alcohol.

Mr Jha demanded from Mr Soren Rs 15 lakh as his share, only to get Rs 5 lakh for setting up an export house. The shop met a premature closure, though.

Turning to Mr Soren for more from the booty, Mr Jha provoked the JMM leader into hatching a plan to kill him.

The CBI alleged that Mr Jha had also caused some harm to Mr Soren's son's brother-in-law. It afforded Mr Soren another provocation to hatch a plan.

As planned, Mr Soren left the city four days before Mr Jha was to be kidnapped on May 22, 1994.

The CBI counsel also placed before the court the report of skull imposition matching with the nature of injuries to Jha.

The defense counsel will begin arguments from Friday.

UNI XC LL RP HT1930