by Alok Mohit
PATNA: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday sought to downplay the controversy involving state director general of police (DGP) SK Singhal for allegedly entertaining phone calls from a conman seeking closure of liquor-related case against now-suspended IPS officer Aditya Kumar.
The alleged fraudster, Abhishek Agarwal, had made phone calls to the DGP, posing as the chief justice of the Patna High Court and sought leniency towards Kumar, a 2011 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, accused of links with liquor traders in the dry state.
“He (the DGP) is retiring in two months (December 19). There is no point in dragging the matter. I have ordered an inquiry into the matter,” the chief minister told reporters in Patna.
Even if he committed a mistake, he later realised it, Nitish Kumar said, adding that the matter should be put to rest.
“All the accused, except the IPS officer who is absconding, have been nabbed by the police. The DGP detected the case on time,” the chief minister said.
Agarwal was arrested by the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of the Bihar police and sent to jail on Thursday on the charges of cheating, impersonation, causing hindrance in government work, and cybercrime.
When asked to give his reaction on the claim made by political strategist Prashant Kishor that Nitish Kumar was still in touch with the BJP and he might once again switch sides, the chief minister refused to comment.
“He keeps talking rubbish,” Nitish Kumar said.
“What should I say? He makes such statements just for his publicity. Everybody knows that he is working for which party,” the chief minister said.
