Patna, July 1: The two state ministers using their government bungalows for commercial purpose are sitting pretty. Neither has faced any heat from any quarter so far despite The Telegraph’s exposé on June 27. Worse still, the chief minister’s secretariat expressed ignorance about any such report.

S. Siddharth, the secretary of chief minister Nitish Kumar, told The Telegraph: “I don’t have any idea about such a report. I do not read The Telegraph. So it is not possible for me to make any comment on the issue.”

Barricading a portion of their official bungalows, animal and fish resources minister Giriraj Singh and transport minister Brishen Patel have been rearing goats and birds for some time now. Giriraj has over 40 goats of different breeds besides five emus at his Circular Road residence. Transport minister Brishen Patel has 40 goats at his house on Deshratna Marg.

Reacting to The Telegraph’s report, Giriraj said: “I don’t understand why you are pulling me up alone. There are more than 11 MLAs in Bihar who are rearing fish and other animals at their official residence. Nobody is talking about them.”

The animal and fish resources minister refused to name the legislators, though.

When asked if he could face any action for rearing the animals in his official residence, Giriraj bluntly said: “Why should I be scared of any one? I have said earlier also that I am not using my official residence for any commercial purpose. Rearing goats and emus is my passion. I don’t understand what people get from such kind of reports. As far as rearing goats and emus is concerned, it is still going on as usual. There is no vested interest in it and it’s my hobby. You did your job, I am doing mine.”

The reaction of the building construction department secretary, Sudhir Kumar, to the report was much rational.

“Yes, I have read your report published few days ago. We have taken the matter into consideration. But as far as any action is concerned, I can’t say anything at present. First, I will have to count the number of goats and emus. Then only I can say anything about the nature of the action,” he said.

The secretary had earlier said: “There is a rule that government bungalows and residences cannot be utilised for any commercial and business purpose. If someone flouts the norm, notice is served on the person concerned. In such cases, allotment of houses can be cancelled.”

Giriraj, significantly, procured his goats from Uttar Pradesh. The emus, sources said, were brought from Pune. Each emu cost the minister Rs 20,000.

Sources said the BJP minister was making “handsome” money from his goats and emus. An egg of emu is sold for Rs 600, they said.

The experts in birds and cattle, on the condition of anonymity, said: “Emu farming is considered profitable because their owners can earn a minimum profit of Rs 1 lakh a year from each bird because all its organs are useful. Its feathers and skin are used for preparing medicines. The older an emu gets, the costlier it becomes.”