Ranchi, Aug 21 (IANS) Jailed former Jharkhand minister Enos Ekka was questioned by vigilance sleuths for nearly four hours in the graft cases against him, but he failed to give “satisfactory” answers, vigilance department sources said.
Ekka was interrogated after he was taken on remand following the vigilance court’s permission.

According to sources, the questions were on the properties owned by Ekka and his wife, including how they made the payments for the land and flats purchased by them, how his wife could afford to own such property and how Ekka’s wife’s company was awarded a contract when he was minister.

The source said that Ekka tried to evade many questions and he was unwilling to reply to questions related to his property.

Meanwhile, Harinarayan Rai, the second former minister arrested on graft charges and presently in judicial custody, will be interrogated Monday and Tuesday next week as the vigilance court has granted permission for this.

Both Rai and Ekka surrendered to court Aug 17, after evading arrest since June 27 when the vigilance court issued non bailable arrest warrants against them.

The vigilance sleuths say that the department found assets worth Rs.3.73 crore with Ekka and Rs 1.16 crore assets with Rai.

In November, the vigilance department had filed a first information report (FIR) against them, charging them with embezzling public funds, amassing wealth illegally and conspiracy.

–Indo-Asian news Service

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