Ranchi, Aug 17 - Two former ministers of Jharkhand, absconding for the past one and a half months after being accused of graft, surrendered to courts here Monday. They were both sent to judicial custody.

Former minister Enos Ekka surrendered to a special vigilance court after the Jharkhand High Court rejected his plea for anticipatory bail Monday. The high court asked him to give himself up to the special court within two weeks, but Ekka did so Monday.

Ekka applied for bail but the special court sent him to judicial custody till Aug 22, when his bail petition will be heard.

The other former minister, Harinarayan Rai who too was absconding, surrendered to the court and was sent to 14 days in judicial custody.

Both former ministers were evading arrests since June 27 after the vigilance court issued arrest warrants against them in a graft case.

According to the vigilance department, assets amounting to Rs 3.73 crore were found with Ekka and Rs 1.16 crore with Rai and a case was registered against both in November last year on the order of the vigilance court for embezzling government funds, amassing wealth illegally and conspiracy.