Tuesday, February 14 2006 15:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Describing as 'ridiculous and baseless' opposition RJD's charge that its MP Aniruddh Prasad alias Sadhu Yadav, brother of former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, was falsely implicated in the flood relief scam at his behest, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has asserted there was no substance in the allegation.

"There is absolutely no interference in the functioning of the Vigilance Investigation Bureau which is carrying out the probe into the multi-crore rupees scam," Kumar told reporters when asked for his comment.

"I have given a free hand to the investigation and prosecution agencies to carry forward honest and fair probe into criminal cases.The law will take its own course," he said.

Earlier, state RJD president Abdul Bari Siddiqui accused the NDA Government in the state of harbouring vendetta against the party's leaders, which was'evident from the false implication of Sadhu'.

"RJD workers and leaders are being harassed and subjected to injustice and torture ever since the NDA came to power"he alleged.

A nation-wide alert has been sounded for Sadhu's arrest after a vigilance court yesterday issued non-bailable warrant of arrest against him in the multi-crore rupees flood relief scam.

The NBW,issued by the Special Judge (vigilance) R N Prasad, on the prayer of the Vigilance Bureau, is the first against a politician in the scam which came to light last year.

Additional Director General of Vigilance Neelmani saidcopies of the NBW had been faxed to Delhi Police Commissioner, police chiefs of all states, besides all zonal police IGs, DIGs and SPs of Bihar asking them to cooperate with the Vigilance Bureau in ensuring the arrest of Sadhu.

Neelmani claimed the bureau had sufficient evidence to prove the charge that Sadhu had allegedly received 'ill gotten' money of the flood relief scam in 2004 from a supplier of relief materials and alleged kingpin of the scam Santosh Kumar Jha, now in judicial custody.

Asked whether the bureau was also probing alleged role of former chief secretary K A H Subramanian and some other bureaucrats in the fraud, he said, "We have not stumbled upon any evidence suggesting their criminal involvement in the case. Our probe is continuing without any bias or malafide against anybody."