Opp adamant on CBI probe, stall Assembly for 4th day

Ranchi, Sep 25 (UNI) The Jharkhand Assembly continued to witness noisy scenes over the Sanjay Chaudhari issue for the fourth day today with the Opposition NDA demanding a CBI probe, which the government said was not necessary.

Chief Minister Shibu Soren said since the case was being investigated by the department concerned, the CBI was not required to step in.

Chaudhari was detained by the Customs officials at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, before he was to board a flight to Dubai on September 17. On screening of his belongings, the authorities had recovered huge sums of unaccounted money, including foreign currency.

Chaudhari, a businessman from Jamshedpur, had claimed that he was ''close'' to former CM Madhu Koda, which the latter dismissed terming it as ''politically fabricated''. He was, however, released by the Customs officials after imposing a fine on him.

Mr Soren, supposed to clear doubts over the issue today, launched counter charge against the Opposition members like leader of Opposition Arjun Munda and Saryu Rai(BJP) saying newspaper reports also named them.

Mr Munda countered that if their names figured then why was the government hesitating to announce a CBI probe.

The Opposition went to the well shouting slogans and Speaker Alamgir Alam adjourned the House till 1200 hours.

Acrimony prevailed when the House reassemlbed and Mr Alam was compelled to adjourn it again after 15 minutes till 1400 hours.

UNI PRS PL SV AS1519