Patna, Nov. 7: BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi has written to chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh demanding action against chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi for not disclosing and submitting false affidavits while appointing son-in-law Devendra Kumar as his personal assistant.

Modi in his two-page letter has raised the issue that according to a May 2000 circular, no minister or deputy minister can appoint a relative as personal assistant. But Manjhi has deliberately hidden the information in his affidavit. The BJP leader has demanded from the chief secretary to take action in this connection under sections 199, 200 and 191 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Section 199 deals with giving false statements made in a declaration; Section 200 deals with using as true such declaration knowing it to be false. Earlier, Manjhi tried to settle the issue, claiming he was not aware of the rules and blamed the cabinet department for not telling him about the norms. However, Modi said Manjhi has been in the government for more than two-and-a-half decades, having been a minister in the Congress, RJD, JDU governments and knows about the said circular.

The BJP leader also demanded action against Manjhi for not removing his peon Satyendra Kumar. Irked over the allegations, Manjhi on Wednesday removed Devendra as his personal assistant but has refused to remove Satyendra claiming he is not a family member.

Modi, demanding action said the circular does not mention anything about family members but it states that no person can appoint a relative as personal assistant.

On Thursday, Modi sought the chief minister's resignation and recovery from him the salary Manjhi's son-in-law received as his personal assistant.