Jharkhand
Illegal mining probe: ED recovers 2 AK-47 rifles, 60 cartridges in raids on Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's close aide
Ranchi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday recovered two AK-47 rifles and 60 cartridges from the home of Prem Prakash, an alleged close aide of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, in a probe linked to an alleged Rs 100 crore mining scam.
The two guns were recovered from an iron almirah in Prakash's house, and a separate case is likely to be filed against him under Arms Act.
Raids in connection with the alleged illegal mining were conducted in 16 to 20 locations across Jharkhand, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Delhi-NCR, media reports said.
According to media reports, the raids were initiated after ED had specific information about Prem Prakash and his alleged links to CM Hemant Soren.
Media reports said that today's raids were based on information given to the ED by Pankaj Mishra, a political aide of Chief Minister Soren, and Mishra's associate Bachhu Yadav. Both of them are already in custody.
The financial probe agency had earlier said in a statement: “The evidence collected during the course of the investigation, including statements of various persons, digital evidence and documents revealed that the seized cash along with the bank balance was derived from illegal mining being rampantly done in the Sahibganj area, including the forest area. A trail of further Rs 100 crore of proceeds of crime generated from illegal mining has also been unearthed and being worked upon.”
In March, ED had filed a case against Mishra under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) accusing him of "illegally grabbing or amassing huge assets in his favour".
In May, the ED raided 36 locations linked to the MNREGA scam and confiscated Rs 19.76 crore in cash, India Today reported, adding that the searched premises included those of IAS officer Pooja Singhal and her associates.
On July 8, ED had searched 19 locations connected to Pankaj Mishra and his alleged associates.
Soon after the July raids, the ED seized Rs 13.32 crore lying in 50 bank accounts, media reports said.
Pooja Singhal and her Chartered Accountant Suman Kumar were arrested by the ED and are currently in jail.
Till now, Rs 36.58 crore allegedly generated illegally from mining has been seized by the ED, said the India Today report.
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