Jharkhand Excise Minister Jaiprakash Bhai Patel, today denied allegations of his involvement in the theft of weapons used by his security personnel.
"I deny the media report. Some political parties are out to tarnish my image," Patel told a news conference here.
The two AK-47 rifles and cartridges of Jharkhand Armed Police Havildars, Kishan Rai and Indra Kumar Chhetri, were yesterday found hidden in the hedges behind a school near the Inspection Bungalow (from where they disappeared).
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Dismissing the report published in a local paper here, Patel said he would cooperate in the investigation in the missing weapons of his three bodyguards on November 24.
"I would like to request Chief Minister Hemant Soren to set up a high-level inquiry into the case," he said.
Meanwhile, police sources said Deputy Superintendent of Police Arvind Kumar Singh met the Minister at the Circuit House while Officer-in-charge of Hazaribagh Sadar police station R D Munda met him at his residence during the day.
"The investigation is not yet completed," Superintendent of Police Manoj Kaushik replied evasively when asked whether the minister was questioned in connection with the case.
The missing revolver of Special Branch Officer Navnit Tiwari could not be traced yet.
On November 24, the security personnel and the drivers had retired for the day after dropping the minister at his residence in the town and reported to their seniors that their weapons had gone missing when they woke up in the morning.
On November 28, a local court had allowed the police request for brain mapping and narco tests on all the five men.
