“During preliminary investigation, allegations of making payments to some MLAs through hawala transactions were found to be true. Evidence of MLAs receiving payments in advance to vote against the NDA by shifting their loyalty towards the RJD-led alliance was found,” an investigating officer said.
The conspiracy to topple the government involved individuals from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Nepal. It is alleged that the MLAs would have received the full payment through hawala channels across different states had the government lost the trust vote in the state assembly on 12 February 2024.
DIG, EOU, Manavjeet Singh Dhillon earlier said that the police had found evidence of a money trail linked to the alleged horse-trading attempt. The payments were allegedly made to ensure that these MLAs would support the Opposition, Grand Alliance (GA), which could have led to the fall of the NDA government.
The investigation is ongoing, and the EOU’s revelations highlight a serious attempt to manipulate the political process in Bihar. If the accusations are proven, they could further deepen political tensions in the state, raising questions about the influence of external forces on Bihar’s governance.
