Ranchi, Nov 17 (IANS) Former Jharkhand minister Enos Ekka, who has been in jail since August in a graft case, Tuesday filed his nomination papers for two assembly seats in the state.

The five-phased Jharkhand assembly polls begin Nov 25.

'Enos Ekka has filed his nomination papers for two assembly seats - Simdega and Kolebira,' Simdega Public Relations Officer M. Ekka told IANS.

Enos Ekka is in jail since Aug 17 in a graft case. He had sought permission from the court to file the poll papers.

Ekka was minister in three governments of the state. He became legislator in 2005 for the first time. He was minister in the Arjun Munda, Madhu Koda and Shibu Soren-led governments.

He was sacked in December last year by then chief minister Shibu Soren after the vigilance department lodged an FIR against him in a graft case.

According to officials, the assets declared by Ekka in 2009 assembly elections were more than Rs.1 crore (Rs.10 million).

The Jharkhand vigilance department has filed chargesheets against Ekka and said he owns assets worth Rs.3.69 crore.