Friday, October 21 2005 15:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: A senior Bihar police official assigned to probe the release after arrest of a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate who is the brother of Union minister of state Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav, suddenly proceeded on 'leave'.

The Election Commission was to have received the report of the inquiry from Additional Director General of Police Manoj Nath, who was entrusted with the probe, by 5:00 pm Yesterday (Oct 20, 2001).

The EC had taken serious note of reports that the Union Minister had allegedly influenced the police for securing the release of his brother Vijay Prakash, the RJD nominee for the Jamui assembly seat, from Khaira police station in Jamui district hours after he was arrested with firearms and over Rs 6.68 lakh in cash during Tuesday's poll.

The RJD candidate had been arrested under non-bailable sections of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act.

The EC had ordered the state administration to get the 'entire episode' thoroughly inquired.

Director General of Police Ashish Ranjan Sinha told sources that he had asked the ADG to probe the matter and submit a report to him by 5:00 pm yesterday.

Sinha said Nath later wrote to him that he was proceeding on leave and the matter was reported to the EC.

"Perhaps Nath was not willing to inquire into it (the case involving Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav)," he said.

Home Secretary H C Sirohi said the Commission had asked the Divisional Commissioner of Munger Sanjiv Kumar Sinha to inquire into the release of Vijay Prakash, including the role of the union minister and submit a report directly to it later this evening.

The Election Commission has directed the Bihar administration to immediately re-arrest Vijay Prakash.

"Prakash is likely to be arrested soon as police is on the job," Sirohi said.

IG (Bhagalpur), N C Dhondiyal was removed on Wednesday by the orders of the Commission for having allegedly facilitated the candidate's release.

Jamui SP Arvind Kumar had suspended the officer in-charge of Khaira police station Mukteshwar Prasad for releasing the RJD candidate.

EC Special Adviser K J Rao, after visiting Jamui had ordered registration of a FIR against the officer in-charge.

Rao had yesterday said he would submit a separate report to the Commission on the release of Vijay Prakash.