Ranchi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) team raided the residence of Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s press advisor Abhishek Prasad alias Pintu on Shivpuri Kanke Road on Wednesday. The ED team had reached Sadal Bal at 5:30 in the morning. At that time almost everyone in the house was sleeping. No one had woken up. Meanwhile, the ED officers included in the team started knocking on the door of the house. After knocking for a long time the door was opened from inside. Was asked who you are? On this it was told that we have come from ED office, we have to search. Saying this the ED officers entered the house. The security personnel locked the door from inside. No one was being allowed to go in or out from inside.
It was told that this raid of ED is being conducted in a money laundering case related to illegal mining worth more than Rs 1000 crore. The residence of CM Hemat Soren’s press advisor Abhishek Prasad is being raided after the information received by ED during interrogation of various accused related to illegal mining. When Abhishek Prasad did not give the keys, the ED team called the locksmith to open some cupboards at around 1 pm. The lock was opened by the mechanic. ED also ordered a photocopy machine to copy the documents in the evening. The raid was continuing even after 6 pm.
On the other hand, Abhishek Prasad, wife and other family members remained inside the house during the raid. He was not allowed to go out by the ED team. Those who were outside were not allowed inside the house. However, Abhishek Prasad’s eight-year-old son was allowed to leave the house. He kept playing outside in the park. In between he went home for some time. After that he came out again. He kept playing outside with his friends till late evening.
Raids in the eyes of local residents: One day it was bound to happen
ED’s raid on Abhishek Prasad’s house remained a matter of suspense throughout the day for the people living in Shivpuri and Aryapuri localities. There was movement of people around the house throughout the day. There was a gathering of media persons outside the house. The focus of his camera was Pintu’s house. Security personnel were deployed inside. The ED team kept taking information from Abhishek Prasad continuously. The ED team also interrogated the tenants living in the house. He said that he is a tenant. They do not have any specific information about the landlord. Abhishek Prasad’s neighbours, local residents and friends said that one day something like this was bound to happen. He is not surprised at the raid.