The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday issued summons to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s Press Advisor Abhishek Prasad to appear before it on January 16 in connection with an illegal mining case. Two others have also been summoned — Vinod Singh, a close associate of Mr. Soren, on January 15; and Sahibganj Deputy Commissioner Ramniwas Yadav, on January 11,.
The ED has also issued summons to Rajkishore Yadav alias Pappu Yadav, former MLA of the Katoria Assembly seat in Bihar to appear at the agency’s office for questioning at 11 a.m. on January 9. On Wednesday, the ED carried out simultaneous raids on the former MLA’s house and several other properties.
The ED is also investigating irregularities in the allocation of contracts, and money earned from the proceeds of crime. Due to his links to the CM, Mr. Singh has been on central agency’s radar for the past one-and-a-half years. Similarly, the ED has been keeping a close eye on the former MLA because of his business connections with Mr. Ramniwas Yadav.
The ED moved on several matters in the ₹1,250 crore case related to illegal mining in Jharkhand’s Sahibganj district on Wednesday. The matter of influencing the ED’s witness, Vijay Hansda, also featured in the actions.
The ED had on Wednesday conducted searches under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at 12 premises situated in the States of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan, and Bihar.
The premises included the residences of Mr. Prasad, Mr. Yadav, and Rajendra Dubey, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sahibganj.
The ED had earlier said that the searches were conducted in relation to a case of illegal stone mining estimated at ₹1,000 crore in Sahibganj district.
The central probe agency initiated the investigation on the basis of a First Information Report (FIR) registered in Sahibganj, under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act, and the Jharkhand Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage Rules, 2017.
The investigation revealed that “rampant” illegal mining activities, estimated at a market value of ₹1,250 crore, were evident in the area. To ascertain the extent of the operation, 20 joint inspections were carried out by ED officials, along with administrative, forest, mining, and pollution control officers of the State government.
During its raids, the agency found evidence of investments and suspicious financial transactions via shell companies. Further action is being taken on the basis of the seizures, sources said.
