Lalu luring Bihar NDA MLAs from Ranchi jail over phone: SuMo

Ranchi: Former Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday evening accused jailed RJD chief Lalu Prasad of trying to lure NDA legislators in the neighbouring state through phone calls.

In a tweet, Modi wrote: “Lalu Yadav making telephone calls (8051216302) from Ranchi to NDA MLAs & promising ministerial berths. When I telephoned, Lalu directly picked up. I said don’t do these dirty tricks from

jail

, you will not succeed.”

The phone number Modi mentioned in his tweet belongs to Lalu’s caretaker Irfan Ansari. The number was switched off when dialled 30 minutes after Modi’s tweet. Irfan has been allowed access to the former Bihar CM , who is in jail in connection with various fodder scam cases. Lalu, who is admitted to Ranchi’s Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) for treatment, is currently lodged at Kelly’s Bungalow, the official residence of the hospital’s director, on grounds of possible Covid-19 infection.

Under the prison manual, Lalu is not allowed to use cellphones for communication and is supposed to meet visitors once every week. However, the manuals are being brazenly violated to keep RJD, a part of the ruling alliance, in good humour, opposition BJP has claimed on various occasions.

Soon after Modi’s tweet, BJP’s

Jharkhand

president Deepak Prakash also tweeted: “Why has the honourable CM Hemant Soren kept his eyes shut on this matter?”

Officials of Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Central Jail were not available for comments when contacted.