Santosh Kumar Jha, accused in the multi-crore flood-relief scam in Bihar, threatened his estranged wife Rachna Jha and her brother Chandan Jha asking them to withdraw their police complaints, family sources said on Monday.
Jha is currently lodged in Central Beur Jail in Patna.
"Santosh said he would kill us if we didn't withdraw our complaints," Chandan added.
This incident proves that Santosh is allowed to use cell phones inside the jail despite the Supreme Court directive against the use of mobiles inside prisons.
Chandan told rediff.com over telephone that Santosh has been threatening him and Rachna, who stays alone in New Delhi, for over a month.
"He threatened us to give a written statement that a flat that he purchased was given to him as dowry," said Chandan.
He added that Rachna has been demanding custody of her two children from Santosh, who he has forcibly taken from her and kept at an undisclosed place.
According to Chandan, Santosh said 'it hardly matters if he is behind bars but he will not let go of his children'.
Chandan said Santosh said the absconding former Patna district magistrate Gautam Goswami, also alleged to be involved in the scam, 'is very close to him'.
Santosh surrendered before the court of designated Vigilance Judge J M Prasad on June 1 following issuance of a non-bailable arrest warrant against him and others in the scam.
Later he was sent to jail and taken on police remand for interrogation.
Last week, Governor Buta Singh said the state government had started the process for Goswami's dismissal despite the fact that Goswami had withdrawn his resignation from the Indian Administrative Service.
Later, Goswami's service was terminated by the Sahara Group, which he had joined as a senior vice-president after resigning from the IAS earlier this year.
Also read:
Santosh Jha surrenders
Flood scam: More cash rewards for clues on accused
Flood-relief scam: Arrest warrant against Goswami
Flood scam: No bail for Time hero
Flood scam: Legal notice to Sahara
Flood scam: FIR against Asia hero Goswami
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