SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, Jan. 4: The Enforcement Directorate today said that, during the search operations on Wednesday, it had recovered various incriminating digital devices, documents/records and cash amounting to Rs. 36.99 lakhs, including Rs 7.25 lakh from the camp office of Sahibganj DC Ram Niwas Yadav.
“Additionally, 19 cartridges of 9 mm bore, two cartridges of .380 mm and five empty cases of .45 pistol were also recovered from the residential premises of Ram Niwas Yadav,” it said.
30 Benami bank accounts
During the searches, the ED also recovered 30 Benami bank accounts, which have been frozen.
Illegal mining worth Rs 1250 crore
“The ED investigation revealed rampant illegal mining activities in the Sahibganj area. The officers of the ED carried out twenty joint inspections of illegal mining activities along with Administrative, Forest, Mining, and Pollution Control Officers of the State Government of Jharkhand in different areas of Sahibganj district to ascertain the extent of illegal mining. The joint inspection has confirmed the instance of huge illegal mining and denudation of land and forest area leading to other environmental hazards,” a release issued by the ED said.
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“During the joint inspection, the quantum of illegal mining of more than 23.26 Crore cubic feet, having an approximate market value of Rs. 1250 crore, has been detected and determined,” it said.
Pankaj Mishra is kingpin
“The ED investigation also revealed that the kingpin of illegal mining activities was Pankaj Mishra, who the ED arrested on 19.07.2022, and currently, he is in judicial custody,” the release added.
“The searches conducted on 03.01.2024 are in continuation of earlier 51 searches and 08 arrests conducted/made by the ED in cases under investigation against rampant illegal stone mining in the state of Jharkhand.”
Notably, the ED has conducted searches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, on 03.01.2024, at 12 premises in the States of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan, and Bihar. The premises include the residences of Abhishek Prasad “Pintu” (Press Advisor to CM of Jharkhand State), Ram Niwas Yadav (DC of Sahibganj District) and Rajendra Dubey (DSP of Sahibganj). This action is related to a case of illegal stone mining prevalent in Sahibganj, Jharkhand, having proceeds of crime of more than Rs 1000 Crore.
“The ED initiated an investigation based on FIR registered at SC/ST P.S, Sahibganj, under various sections of IPC, Arms Act and JMMC Rules, 2004, against Bishnu Yadav, Pavitra Yadav, Pankaj Mishra and others regarding illegal stone mining. Later on, the subject case was taken over by CBI as per the direction of the Jharkhand High Court.”
