Former Jharkhand minister Kamlesh Singh sent to judicial custody

Ranchi, Dec 1 (ANI): The Vigilance Commission here has sent Former Jharkhand Irrigation Minister Kamlesh Singh to 14 days judicial custody.

Singh is supposed to be involved in the Rs 4,000 crore money laundering scam involving former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda.

He was arrested last night from Hussainabad, his native place in Palamu district of Jharkhand.

Kamlesh Singh however has refuted the charges leveled against him claiming that adversaries have trapped him due to his popularity.

In the meantime, Singh's lawyer Sameer Saurabh has filed an application seeking permission from the court for his client to file nomination as a candidate in the ongoing Jharkhand assembly elections.

"He has been taken under judicial remand for 14 days. He is contesting from Hussainabad in the ensuing legislative assembly elections and today was the last day to file his nomination. But he was arrested and was taken into judicial remand. We have thus filed an application so that directions are given to the jail authorities and he is able to file his nomination on time. On this, the court has given directions to jail authorities to take effective measures, provide escort party so that he can file his nomination by 3 p.m.," said Sameer Saurabh, the defence counsel for Kamlesh Singh.

Koda was arrested on Monday evening and sent to 14-days judicial custody.

Jharkhand is going through seven-phased polls. The second phase falls on December 2.

Former Jharkhand Ministers Bhanu Pratap Shahi and Bhandu Tirkey have also been booked on charges of corruption.

Five bureaucrats are also under the scanner in the Koda case (ANI)