The National Investigation Agency on Monday arrested former Jharkhand minister Gopal Krishna Patar in connection with the murder of former state Janata Dal (United) legislator Ramesh Munda in 2008, PTI reported.

An NIA spokesperson said that Patar was arrested in Ranchi for conspiring with Naxalites to murder Munda. MLA Ramesh Munda was killed in July 2008 when he was delivering a speech on the outskirts of Ranchi. His security guards were also killed.

Patar became a legislator from the Tamar Assembly seat in 2009, which had fallen vacant after Munda’s murder. He had defeated Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief Shibu Soren in the bye-election, forcing Soren to step down as the chief minister.

Patar’s arrest comes a day after investigators arrested Jharkhand Police Assistant Sub-Inspector Sheshnath Singh. Singh had allegedly provided information on Munda’s movement to the Naxals.

Patar’s arrest has exposed a nexus between Maoists and politicians in Jharkhand, according to IANS.