SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, July 27: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today said that Kanke Circle Officer (CO) Jai Kumar Ram deleted online Jamabandi/records of at least 140 acres when the central agency was conducting raids at various locations of journalist-turned-land dealer Kamlesh Kumar on June 21 last.
The ED later obtained the logs of the 20 deleted records from the NIC server. “These landed properties fall under Kanke Mouza and have an area of more than 140 acres. These entries were created/inserted illegally and in an unauthorized manner by the Circle officer, Kanke in connivance with Kamlesh Kumar and others,” the agency has said in its petition seeking custodial interrogation of Kamlesh for 10 days.
ED court to take call on remand on Monday
Notably, the ED arrested Kamlesh on July 26 and produced him in the PMLA court today. The court sent him into judicial custody and will take a call on the ED’s remand petition on Monday.
ED sources said that Kamlesh could be a part of the ‘biggest land scam’ in Ranchi. “He enjoyed the patronage of several bigwigs who have got land through him in Chama, a region within the Kanke area,” sources added.
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The scam involves the illegal acquisition and sale of government and private lands. It is alleged that a nexus of government officials, middlemen, and real estate developers have been manipulating land records to facilitate these illegal transactions.
Kamlesh Kumar is a habitual offender
Describing Kamlesh Kumar, 33, as a habitual offender, who knowingly indulges in criminal activities with his accomplices to acquire landed properties illegally and fraudulently, the ED has said several deeds have surfaced in which he is directly involved either as an identifier, witness or holder of the power of Attorney.
“The scrutiny of such documents collected during the investigation reveals that proceeds of crime worth rupees several crores have been generated and acquired by Kamlesh Kumar and his accomplices. The scrutiny of the documents so far gathered during the investigation is continuing and the quantum of proceeds of the crime is escalating, it added.
ED seized Rs 1.02 crore and 100 live cartridges
Notably, the ED seized cash during searches amounting to Rs. 1,02,18,000 from the premises of Kamlesh acquired out of the illegal
activities related to the acquisition and disposal of landed properties. It also recovered 100 live cartridges from his premises. “It corroborates their use for illegal land dealings,” the ED added.
The ED has stated that custodial interrogation of Kamlesh is necessary to identify the trail of proceeds of crime among him and his accomplices as he is associated with several properties.
“Besides, we also want to identify the role of Kamlesh Kumar as well as his accomplices in acquiring proceeds of crime in the form of landed properties as several properties have been dealt by him in illegal manner with the involvement of his accomplices,” the ED said.
