Rama Khalkho

A special vigilance court today allowed the police to issue a notice against former mayor Rama Khalkho, asking her to appear before the court in a month, failing which moves would be initiated to attach her property.

An arrest warrant is out against Khalkho, wanted for her alleged role in the cash seizure that led to the countermanding of the Ranchi mayoral polls. She has been missing for nearly a month now.

The court (state vigilance) of A.R.K. Sinha on Friday allowed the issuance of a proclamation notice against Khalkho, as sought by the investigating officer of the case, DSP (city) P.N. Singh under section 82 of CrPC.

“The notice will be pasted at Khalkho’s residence at Hinoo. She will be asked to appear before the court within a month, failing which the process to attach her property will be initiated,” Rajesh Kumar, a junior advocate assisting Sinha in the case, said.

Confirming the development, SP (city) Manoj Ratan said: “It is a routine exercise to mount pressure on her to surrender. Though we had sought issuance of a proclamation notice against Khalkho a week ago, we were not in a position to press for it as the accused had filed an anticipatory bail plea. After the anticipatory bail petition was rejected on April 30, we moved court.”

However, Khalkho’s lawyers put up a brave front.

“We will knock on the doors of Jharkhand High Court, seeking bail for my client, by Monday. We are now collecting certified copies of the vigilance court’s order,” Sambhu Agrawal, a defence lawyer said.

A sum of Rs 21.90 lakh, purportedly meant to influence voting in favour of Congress-backed Khalkho in the mayoral elections, was recovered from Hotel City Palace on April 7.

Thereafter, an FIR was registered against Khalkho, Congress leader Neeranjan Sharma and his employee Sudhir Sahu under non-bailable section of the IPC.

Sahu and Sharma have been arrested and are currently lodged in Birsa Munda Central Jail. Their regular bail pleas were rejected along with Khalkho’s petition on April 30.

The case, which was initially being heard by the court of judicial magistrate Yashwant Prakash, went to the vigilance court after police added certain sections under the Prevention of Corruption Act to the original FIR.

Rama Khalko on Friday moved Jharkhand High Court against the decision of the state election commission to cancel the mayoral election. Khalko filed a petition, claiming that the governor does not have the authority to cancel the election arbitrarily.