Monday, December 19 2005 16:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jamui: After being on the run for two months former union minister Jaiprakash Narain Yadav today (Dec 19, 2005) turned up at the Khaira police station where he was interrogated for around three hours in the wake of a Patna High Court order in a case charging him with causing 'illegal escape' of his brother and RJD candidate for Jamui assembly seat Vijay Prakash.

Yadav, accompanied by his lawyer Ramlakhan Tiwari presented himself before the investigating officer Ranvijay Sharma at 11 am at the police station.

He was later escorted to a room there when police superintendent Arvind Kumar arrived for an in-camera recording of his statement.

The quizzing, which began at 11 am, lasted till 1.45 pm, SP Kumar told sources while describing today's exercise as 'preliminary'.

The SP said in accordance with the October 14 order of the high court, the ex-minister would have to be in regular touch with the I.O. of the case and leave Jamui only after getting prior permission.

"The process of the investigation will continue till submission of the chargesheet", he said.

Jaiprakash faced a number of questions about his presence at the police station on the night of October 18 when Vijay Prakash was in custody.

"The ex-minister presented the facts regarding his presence at the police station that night and assured the officers that he will cooperate with the police in the ongoing investigation", Yadav's counsel Tiwari said.

Tiwari said the High Court had also stayed the execution of the non-bailable arrest warrant issued by the lower court on October 24 till submission of the chargesheet. "After submission of the chargesheet, the lower court will decide the further course of legal action", he claimed.

After interrogation, Yadav drove straight to the RJD office in Jamui.

Yadav had moved the HC after his criminal writ petition challenging the October 24 CJM order issuing warrant of arrest against him, which was dismissed by Jamui, district and sessions court judge in mid-November.

Jaiprakash's brother Vijay Prakash allegedly escaped from police custody hours after his arrest for moving around in Jamui with Rs 6.68 lakh cash, liquor bottles and his licenced weapon on the day of assembly poll on October 18. Jaiprakash had to resign from the union government after the Jamui court rejected his anticipatory bail prayer. He has also been charged with misuse of his authority as union minister in allegedly facilitating escape of his brother.

While his brother Vijay Prakash lost the assembly poll from Jamui seat, his mother also got defeated from Haveli Kharagpur constituency on RJD ticket.

Besides the electoral reverses for his family, Yadav, a close aide of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, has been on the run after issue of NBW against him on October 24.

Vijay Prakash is lodged in judicial custody in this case.