For the second time in a month, a member from the ruling JD(U) is in trouble. This time, MLA Satyadev Singh has been caught on camera allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from a businessman.
Following the release of a sting operation on the MLA, the party said it will probe the matter as it has “zero tolerance” for corruption.
In the video released ahead of the third phase of Bihar Assembly polls, Singh, the sitting MLA from Kurtha, is seen taking an unknown businessman to the terrace of his MLA quarters at Veerchand Patel Path.
Singh is then seen taking wads of currency notes, allegedly worth Rs 2 lakh, in the denomination of Rs 1,000 for favours to the businessman’s company if JD(U) are to win the Assembly elections.
Singh, who contested from Kurtha seat in the second phase of polls on a JD(U) ticket, is allegedly heard demanding Rs 5 lakh for favours to the company if JD(U) returns to power.
While Singh was unavailable for comments, party national spokesperson KC Tyagi said all information on the sting is being collected and will be probed. Tyagi said the resignation of a minister on similar charges earlier this month is proof of its stand on corruption.
Additional Chief Electoral Officer R Laxmanan said the District Magistrate of Patna will inquire into the matter and necessary action will be taken on the basis of the report. Senior Superintendent of Police Vikash Vaibhav said he has not received any complaint in this regard.
The sting operation comes a day after a video went viral on social networking sites in which Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was seen with a ‘tantrik’, where the latter was heard asking him why he had teamed up with Lalu Prasad.
Earlier, Awadhesh Kushwaha was caught on camera allegedly accepting a Rs 4 lakh rupee bribe from a Mumbai businessmen. Kushwaha, an MLA from Pipra constituency in East Champaran district, resigned from the Nitish Kumar government on moral grounds. He was replaced by another candidate Krishna Chandra.
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