16 April 2013. Rama Khalko, the outgoing mayor of Ranchi was charged with corruption in cash-for-vote scam in the run up to the April 8 mayoral elections. On 7 April 2013 police ceased Rs 22.61 lakhs (USD 41,000) in a city hotel where a CCTV purportedly showed Khalkho, and others going inside the hotel that day. Two of her aids were also charged with corruption.
Khalko continued to evade arrest 5 days so far after a warrant was issued against her by a local court.
Police have deployed security personnel at airport, railway station and bus stands. The roads leading to the state capital are also under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, the State Election Commission has recommended the Governor to cancel the April mayoral elections.
The Income Tax department has summoned Khalkho on April 18. The Congress also yesterday set up a three-member committee to look into the allegations against some party leaders.
Charges were also filed against Congress leaders Niranjan Shah and Sudhir Kumar Sahu on April 7 and they were produced before the judicial magistrate who sent them to 14 days judicial custody. Khalkho recently joined the Congress in New Delhi. The Congress backed her in the party-less mayoral elections.
