New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has summoned (ED) the Chief Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren. He has been asked to appear in front of the investigative agency on November 3. This is being done in case pertaining to illegal mining. Soren has been asked to appear by 11.30 am at the regional office of the agency located in Ranchi.
Recoveries made from close aide Pankaj Mishra’s home
The ED has made the move almost a month after it seized some cheque-books and passbooks, including two signed cheques. The recoveries were made from the house of Soren’s close aide Pankaj Mishra.
Mishra is said to be enjoying the political clout acting as a representative of Soren. He has been exercising considerable control over illegal mining business. He is also in control of an inland ferry service in the Sahebganj in the nearby areas through his accomplices.
Mishra has been sent to judicial custody
Mishra is currently being held in judicial custody for having control over the use of several crushers installed across multiple mining sites in the Sahebganj district of Jharkhand, as well as the mining of stone chips and boulders.
The ED disclosed the information following the filing of a Prosecution Complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, against Pankaj Mishra, Bachhu Yadav, and Prem Prakash before the special court in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand.
ED conducted 47 raids throughout India
47 searches were carried out by the ED in various locations across India during the investigation, leading to the seizure of cash worth Rs 5.34 crore, the freezing of bank balances worth Rs 13.32 crore, the freezing of the inland vessel MV Infralink III, reg. No. WB 1809, five stone crushers, two Hyva trucks, as well as the seizure of incriminating documents and two AK 47 assault rifles.
Pankaj Mishra, Bachhu Yadav, and Prem Prakash were all taken into custody by the ED between July 19 and August 4. Presently in judicial custody are all of the accused people who have been detained thus far.
On the basis of a FIR filed by the Barharwa Police Station in Sahebganj under several sections of IPC, the ED began an inquiry against Pankaj Mishra and others into money laundering.
