MLA’s Plea Regarding Raghubar Das-Era Consultancy Controversy Rejected
Court grants Roy liberty to present views in appropriate forum as it turns down petition on ACB investigation delay.
RANCHI – Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy faced a setback as the Jharkhand High Court rejected his petition regarding the Meinhardt agency reinstatement case.
The case pertains to events during former Chief Minister Raghubar Das’s tenure as a minister.
The High Court had recently reserved its decision after hearing Roy’s petition concerning the delay in receiving the Preliminary Investigation (PE) report from the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) in the Meinhardt scam case.
"The High Court has rejected Saryu Roy’s petition," a legal source confirmed. "However, they have granted him liberty to present his views in an appropriate forum."
Background of the Case
The source explained the case’s origins: "After Jharkhand became a separate state, social workers filed a petition in the High Court, resulting in a 2003 order to develop Ranchi’s sewerage system."
The source added, "Tenders for consultants were issued under then Urban Development Minister Bachha Singh. Two consultants were initially selected."
Saryu Roy’s contention was that in 2005, when Raghubar Das became Urban Development Minister, he called a meeting on August 31 to finalize the DPR, deciding to remove the selected consultant.
The controversy deepened when Singapore-based Meinhardt was appointed as a consultant.
"Rs. 21 crore was spent on consultancy, but no work was done," Roy had claimed. Later, he brought this matter to light.
The High Court’s decision marks a significant development in this long-standing controversy, potentially redirecting the course of Roy’s pursuit of the matter.
