SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, June 13: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today informed the PMLA court that Shekhar Mahto alias Shekhar Kushwaha is a member of the land scam syndicate, which is operating in Ranchi to acquire and dispose of landed properties by preparing fake deeds, falsification of government records and tampering with government documents.
The agency had arrested Shekhar yesterday. The other members of the syndicate were Saddam Hussain, Afshar Ali, Bhanu Pratap Prasad (circle inspector), Priya Ranjan Sahay, Anand Tirkey @ Antu Tirkey, Md. Irshad, Tapas Ghosh, Sanjit Kumar, and Md Irshad.
‘Scam linked to land in illegal possession of Hemant Soren’
Producing him in the court, the ED stated that the scrutiny of the voluminous property documents revealed illegal activities to acquire several properties, including a land measuring 8.86 acres which was found to be in illegal possession of former Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
The ED investigation revealed that a fake deed of the year 1940 was manufactured for a property of 6.34 acres spread over several plots of Khata no. 234 out of which plot no. 989 (84 decimals) and 996 (32 decimals) fall under the said 8.86 acres property which is in illegal possession of Hemant Soren.
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Role of land scamsters
The ED has also established the role of Md. Saddam Hussain, Priya Ranjan Sahay, Afshar Ali, Md. Irshad and others in manufacturing fake deed no. 3985/1940 for the above-stated 6.34 acres property out of which plot no. 989 and 996, Khata no. 234 have Hemant Soren.
“These persons were also involved in fraudulently acquiring land measuring 4.83 acres situated at Mauja Gari, Cheshire Home Road, Ranchi by way of creating two fake deeds no. 2376/1940 and 3954/1974. In addition to this, several other properties were also dealt with similarly,” the ED said.
The ED investigation has also revealed the role of Shekhar in the preparation of the fake deed no. 3985/1940, which was prepared in connivance of Md. Saddam Hussain, Afshar Ali, Priya Ranjan Sahay, Md. Irshad, Irshad Akhtar and others.
Fake deed to acquire 4.83 acres at Gari Mauza
“In addition to this, his role also surfaced in the above-stated fake deed bearing no. 3954 of the year 1974 which was made in connivance with Md. Saddam Hussain, Afshar Ali, Priya Ranjan Sahay, Md. Irshad and others,” the ED said, adding this fake deed was made to acquire one property measuring 4.83 acres at Gari Mauza, Ranchi in an illegal manner which could not be sold or transferred to the persons belonging to the general category.
“However, these persons namely Bhanu Pratap Prasad in connivance with his accomplices namely Bipin Singh, Afsar Ali, Shekhar Kushwaha, Saddam Hussain, Priya Ranjan Sahay, Md. Irshad fraudulently made this above-stated land saleable by way of making fake deeds and corresponding false entries in the original government records,” the ED said.
As per the present Circle rates of the Urban residential properties, the value of the land measuring 483 decimals stands at Rs. 22.61 crores (@ Rs 4,68,291/- per decimal).
“Thus, it is evident from facts that Shekhar Prasad Mahto @ Shekhar Kushwaha is knowingly involved in the processes and activities connected with proceeds of crime (in the form of land and money) which are derived out of illegal activities i.e. preparation of fake deeds, committing forgery, falsification and tampering with government records,” the ED said.
“So, Shekhar’s custody is required to ascertain the proceeds of crime used and generated out of the said activities; to ascertain the trail of proceeds of crime involved in the present case and to identify the other beneficiaries out of these activities,” the ED concluded.
