The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths on Wednesday arrested former Sports Minister Bandhu Tirkey in connection with multi-crore National Games scam. Bandhu was arrested from Ranchi Civil Court, where he had gone to for regular appearance in court pertaining to another disproportionate assets case, which he is facing.

Anti Corruption Bureau, Ranchi & Special Cell, Superintendent of Police (SP), Manilal Mandal said, “Bandhu Tirkey was one of the wanted accused in the case. There is documentary evidence against Tirkey about his direct involvement in the case. Apart from Tirkey there are several other accused in Rs 25 crore National Games scam.” Tirkey’s arrest is third in the case. Prior to Tirkey’s arrest the ACB had arrested SM Hasmi and PC Mishra. The fourth accused in the case Madhukant Pathak had surrendered before the court. The arrest of Tirkey, a senior JVM leader, is likely to heat up the political temperature in the State as the leader after joining JVM had become more vocal speaking against the government. Sources said that the arrest of Tirkey was in a dramatic way. On Wednesday morning, Tirkey had gone to the Special CBI Court of AK Mishra, where he facing disproportionate assets case.

After making regular appearance in the case, Tirkey was returning when the ACB sleuths caught him. As Tirkey had gone to the court with only few of supporters and security personnel, his supporters could not make any protest. The ACB sleuths later produced him in a court of Prakash Jha which forwarded Tirkey to 14 days judicial custody after his medical test.

Sources said that though the arrest of Tirkey was dramatic, it was expected that the former minister would be caught any day. Sources said that recently the State government gave green signal to ACB to arrest Tirkey in National Games scam.

Tirkey and five others including National Games organizing committee chairman R.K. Anand apprehending arrest had approached Jharkhand High Court seeking anticipatory bail. However, the Jharkhand High Court did not provide any relief to Tirkey. In 2007, Jharkhand received the responsibility of hosting National Games.  After changing the dates for eight to nine times Jharkhand finally hosted the National Games from February 12 to 26, 2011. Though the State successfully hosted the National Games, controversy erupted about large scale anomalies in National Games. 

There were allegations of anomalies in tendering process, excess purchase of goods, giving tenders to companies where does not full fill the requisite criteria of L1, administrative and financial lapses in giving tenders among others. As per Principal Accountant General (PAG) there was scam to the tune of Rs 28 crore. The ACB is conducting the probe for past nine years.

However, the former sports minister Tirkey blamed the State Government behind his arrest, claiming that he has been targeted for raising voices against the Government. Tirkey who had represented Mandar assembly seat claimed that he is not afraid of Government and he will fight against the Government and will win too as he had faith in the judiciary.