Expelled vice-president of the BJP's farmers' cell, Vipin Sharma, is the most-wanted individual in the Srijan funds transfer scam now.

Special Investigating Team (SIT) officials, media and politicians are looking for the 47-year-old Sharma, who is absconding since the first FIR in the case was lodged on August 7.

"He knows everything about the scam and has more details than Amit Kumar and Priya Kumar, the son and daughter-in-law of Late Manorama Devi (the founder of Srijan). He is also the main figure who used to coordinate with senior politicians and bureaucrats on behalf of the NGO," an SIT source said.

The source added that because of his close proximity with Manorama Devi not only has his name featured several times in the confessional statements of people arrested recently for their involvement in the scam, but also most of them said Sharma is the kingpin of the scam.

"If we manage to get hold of Sharma we will get to know a lot more in detail about the scam," said a senior police officer.

Sharma is also a topic of discussion among politicians and corporate houses because he had managed to bind many traders, promoters, builders, government employees, bank officials and local journalists in the Srijan chain.

"On several occasions we used to collect gifts from Sharma's readymade shops or he used to gift us on behalf of Manorama Devi when she was alive," admitted a beneficiary.

A native of Jairampur village in Naugachia sub-division, across river Ganga, Sharma came from a middle-class agriculture family. He had a small shop dealing with footwear in the mid-90s at Tilka Manjhi Chowk here but he was actively associated with the BJP.

"He developed good rapport with BJP's former MP from Bhagalpur Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and is a known figure in legislator's camp," said a BJP activist, who is associated with the camp of former state health minister and party MP from Buxar Ashwani Kumar Choubey.

Another BJP worker said, there was a public felicitation of newly appointed minister Ram Narayan Mandal in Bhagalpur on August 5 and Sharma was the event convener.

Banners and posters put up for the occasion at public places had Sharma's name and photograph. "But we were surprised not to find him at the event and later came to know about the Srijan developments," said the party worker.

The first FIR in the case was lodged on August 7 and it is said Sharma, who was tipped off of the developments, managed to flee with his wife. "Manorama Devi's elder son Pranay, who had migrated to Australia long back, was a childhood friend of Sharma. He managed to strike a chord with Manorama after 2005. In 2006, her second son died in an accident in Ranchi and Sharma managed to position himself firmly in the Srijan family. He used to call her his foster mother," said a local resident close to Sharma.

"Sharma's transformation was glaring. He gave up simple clothes and got a fashionable makeover with a gold chain always around the neck. We all thought Sharma's association with Srijan made him rich," said an old friend of his.

Sharma hurriedly acquired four shops, including a branded garments showroom. A building of his was taken on rent by Amit Kumar to run his institute, Kumar Classes, at Tilka Manjhi locality.

The SIT has learnt that Sharma had huge investments at different places other than Bhagalpur. "He is wanted by the investigating agencies because he is the one who can disclose the nexus between politicians-bureaucrats and the Srijan NGO," a police officer said.

Documents found in Srijan's office stated that Sharma was a field officer appointed by Manorama for a monthly remuneration of Rs 25,000. His wife, Rubi Kumari, who is also absconding, was a member of the executive committee of Srijan.

Their minor sons are schooling in Dehradun and stay in hostel. "The BJP leadership at the state headquarters has expelled Sharma from the party," said a BJP worker.