CBI tells HC probe into 2012 Rs horse-trading concluded

Ranchi: CBI on Monday told the Jharkhand High Court that its investigation into horse-trading allegations surfaced during 2012 Rajya Sabha elections for two seats in the state was completed and it would file charge sheet soon.

Appearing before a bench of Chief Justice P C Tatia and Justice Jaya Roy, senior CBI counsel placed the status report of the agency and talked about the completion of the probe and that the agency was readying to file the charge sheet in the case soon.

CBI placed the status report after the high court had on April 2 asked it why the charge sheet had not been filed in the case and directed the agency to speed up its investigation and place a status report today.

The court fixed May 6 for the next hearing.

CBI had conducted raids in the premises of over 23 MLAs of Jharkhand in connection with the horse trading case which was registered after Rs 2.15 crore had been recovered from a vehicle, allegedly owned by a relative one of the independent candidates, on the outskirts of Ranchi on the polling day.

The Election Commission of India had immediately scrapped the polling for the two seats held then and conducted the polls afresh.