Jitan Ram Manjhi's son detained with Rs 4.65 lakh cash in Bihar

The younger son of former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi was on Sunday detained with Rs 4.65 lakh, while four people were arrested in pre-election crackdown on use of illegal money during the elections, officials said.

Elsewhere, Rs 49 lakh cash was recovered as part of the drive launched by the state authorities following a directive from the Election Commission against people travelling with unaccounted money.

In a major embarrassment for Manjhi, his son Praveen Kumar was detained after police intercepted his car during a routine check at Gaya-Jehanabad check post near Umta village and seized Rs 4.65 lakh cash, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Md. Ashfaq Ansari said.

Kumar was detained and taken to Makdumpur police station for questioning after he allegedly failed to give a satisfactory reply about the purpose for carrying the cash, he said.

Kumar, however, claimed the money was meant for construction work being carried out at his house in Patna.

"I was going to Patna from Gaya with Rs 4.65 lakh. I was taking this money to build our house in Hanuman Nagar in Patna where some construction work is going on. I had taken this money from my brothers," he told reporters.

Police seized Rs 49 lakh unaccounted cash in five separate incidents in the state capital and Muzaffarpur district.

Among those arrested for carrying the money include two persons from Gujarat. Police also arrested Vishwanath Prasad Singh, a JD-U leader and former MLA of Parsa constituency in Saran district, from a place near Chief Minister's official residence for alleged unauthorised display of party posters on his vehicle in violation of the model code of conduct.

They also seized an SUV belonging to Sabir Ali, former JD-U Rajya Sabha member and currently a leader of BJP, for alleged violation of the model code of conduct and registered an FIR against him.

Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Vikas Vaibhav said, "Intensive checking of vehicles has been started across the district following the EC directive to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections by curbing the use of money, liquor and weapons."