CBI sources said searches were carried out at residences of Simon Marandi of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Umashankar Akela of BJP and Rajesh Ranjan, Yogendra Sao and Sawna Lakra of Congress.
The agency has filed an FIR in the case relating to a media expose where six MLAs were allegedly caught on tape expressing willingness to vote for a particular candidate in return of monetary gains. In January, the Jharkhand HC had directed the CBI to take over the probe into cash-for-vote allegations linked to 2010 Rajya Sabha elections and also to look into whether any vigilance official was hindering progress in the case.
The case was handled by the state vigilance department which had lodged an FIR against six MLAs of different political parties after a TV channel showed footage purportedly having voices of some legislators soon after the 2010 RS polls held to fill the vacant post of MPs from Jharkhand.