Ranchi, Aug. 26: Chief minister Arjun Munda is likely to find himself in the middle of a storm over one of his latest induction in his Cabinet.

Even as the BJP cries itself hoarse over tainted ministers in the UPA government at the Centre, Munda has gone ahead and included an absconder — Hazaribagh legislator Devdayal Kushwaha — in his ministry. And this has given enough fodder for the other political parties. A section of Janata Dal (U) legislators at a meeting this evening attacked the chief minister for inducting the “tainted” person. Senior JD(U) member and former water resources minister Ram Chandra Kesri said his party legislators will decide on the “course of action” to be taken on the issue soon.

The RJD, on its part, has threatened to take to the streets over the issue. State unit RJD president Yogendra Baitha said his party would expose the real face of the BJP ministers among the masses.

A non-bailable arrest warrant is pending against Kushwaha since February 2, 1999, though the complainant Kaushlaya Devi formally requested the Hazaribagh sub-divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM) to allow her to withdraw the complaint against Kushwaha and the other co-accused persons. Consequently, the court directed all the parties concerned to appear before it for the settlement of the dispute. But the parties did not appear in the court and so the arrest warrant against Kushwaha remained effective. The case had last come up for hearing on August 24 this year and will again be heard on September 23.

Kushwaha said he has already discussed the matter with Munda. “The case still remains pending because a CCL officer who figures as a co-accused in the case has died and the other one has been transferred to Orissa. As all of us have not been able to turn up together at a time, the case could not be closed,” he added.

The case related to a widow’s fight for dues. Complainant Kaushalya Devi’s husband Chhatradhari Prasad, a class IV employee with the CCL, died while on duty in 1995. Then followed the complications. Prasad had also married Budhni Devi nearly 12 years ago. In his service records, he had mentioned Budhni as his nominee for the retirement or death benefits.

Kushwaha “confirmed” Budhni’s identity in the capacity of the local legislator. He did it on the basis of verification by the village mukhiya and the local BDO. Consequently, the CCL authorities paid Rs 92,215 to Budhni. When Kaushlaya came to know of it, she lodged a complaint with the Hazaribagh chief judicial magistrate (case no. 397 /96). Kushwaha figured as a co-accused in this case along with two senior CCL officials. Kushwaha’s anticipatory bail application was also turned down in December 1999. Kaushalya, through an affidavit, informed the court on June 7, 2001 that she did not have any complaint against the legislator and that she was no more interested in the case. She said Budhni had returned her husband’s provident fund savings.