Ranchi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) team has jailed Chief Minister’s press advisor, CM’s close aide Vinod Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Sahibganj, DSP, people who invested money of politicians and IAS officers, besides hosting ED’s witnesses, on charges of illegal mining. Raided 12 locations of nine people who arranged liquor and kebabs. ED has included four locations in Ranchi, five in Sahibganj, one in Deoghar, two in Rajasthan and one in Kolkata in the scope of the raid. In the illegal mining scam, ED has already raided 47 locations in five phases.
During the raid, Rs 8 lakh in cash was seized from the Deputy Commissioner of Sahibganj. While 14 9 mm bullets were also found. These bullets are from a banned pistol. He is not able to give correct information about the sources of cash. On the other hand, copies of the petitions filed by Pankaj Mishra against ED in various courts have been found from his house. This provides evidence of his relationship with Pankaj Mishra, who is in jail on charges of illegal mining. During the raid, Rs 25 lakh in cash and investment related documents were found from Vinod Singh’s house. 30 benami bank accounts have been found from the hideout of Sahibganj’s stone businessman Kanhaiya Khudaniya. The numbers of all the accounts are in series. Signed check books related to all the accounts have been seized. ED has banned the operation of all these accounts of Canara Bank with immediate effect. Mobile phones of all the people included in the raid have been confiscated. WhatsApp chat details with politicians have been found from Vinod Singh’s mobile.
Raiding action started in Ranchi at 7:00 am
ED officials started raids in Ranchi around 7:00 am on Wednesday. The ED team raided the houses of Chief Minister’s press advisor Abhishek Prasad alias Pintu, his business partner Roshan Singh, Vinod Singh accused of investing in politicians and people close to power. When the ED team reached Pintu’s house and tried to search his mother’s cupboard, they were told that the key was lost. After this the ED team called the locksmith and got the cupboard locked. However, sources say that nothing has been found from this cupboard.
ED team also reached the house of Jamadar of Birsa Munda Jail
The ED team also raided the house of Jamadar Awadhesh Singh of Birsa Munda Central Jail. Awadhesh Singh is accused of arranging liquor and kebabs for influential money laundering accused in jail. ED has also accused this employee of taking a girl to Prem Prakash in jail on the occasion of Holi with the aim of implicating ED officials in a false case. ED has mentioned this incident in the affidavit filed in the Supreme Court.
ED team has interrogated Pintu before the raid
Before raiding the premises of Chief Minister’s Press Advisor Pintu, ED had interrogated him. During interrogation, on the instructions of ED, he had handed over the details of his and family properties to ED. ED had raided the premises of JMM’s CA Jaishankar Jaipuriar on 24 August 2022. In this, files related to the Chief Minister and his family members, Prem Prakash, Pintu and his wife Shweta Prasad were found from the CA locations. During investigation, information was received that Pintu owned two companies named Shiv Sai Enterprises and Shiv Shakti Enterprises. Shiv Shakti has two JCBs. A huge income is shown with the help of these two JCBs. In connection with Vinod Singh, who was included in the scope of the raid, ED had received a complaint that he is the owner of Grid Consultant Architect Company. He is very close to the Chief Minister and Pintu. He has acquired a lot of property in his name and that of his family members.
Raids were also conducted on the official residence of Sahibganj Deputy Commissioner and ancestral residence in Rajasthan.
Apart from the official bungalow of Deputy Commissioner Ram Niwas Yadav in Sahibganj, ED raided his two ancestral residences in Jaipur, Rajasthan. ED raided the Hazaribagh residence of Sahibganj DSP Rajendra Dubey, stone businessman Kanhaiya Khudaniya and former MLA Rajkishore Yadav alias Pappu Yadav in Deoghar. Deputy Commissioner Ram Niwas Yadav is accused of being involved in a conspiracy to make ED witness Vijay Hansda hostile. He has been involved in the meeting held to plan to make witnesses hostile. Apart from this, there is an allegation of trying to cover up the matter by giving a wrong report in the steamer accident that took place on March 24, 2022 in Sahibganj. He has already been questioned in this regard. The reason for ED including former MLA Rajkishore Yadav in the scope of the raid is said to be his close relationship with the Deputy Commissioner. ED had received information that the former MLA had invested the illegal earnings of the Deputy Commissioner in his business. During the raid, ED found Rs 8 lakh in cash kept in packets along with files in the office of the Deputy Commissioner.
Abhay Saraogi not found at his hideout in Kolkata
Apart from this, the ED team raided the hideout of Abhay Saraogi near JW Marriott, Kolkata. Saraogi has been included in the scope of the raid on suspicion of investing the money of a Chief Secretary level officer. However, Abhay Saraogi was not found at his whereabouts. Search for him is going on.
ED raided their locations
Ram Niwas Yadav, DC Sahibganj, government residence and two ancestral residences located in Jaipur.
Abhishek Srivastava alias Pintu’s house in Aryapuri in Ranchi
Vinod Singh, Architect, House at Piska Mod, Ranchi
Roshan Singh, house located in Krishnapuri in Chutia, Ranchi.
Rajendra Dubey, DSP Sahibganj, Hazaribagh house.
Awadhesh Singh, Jamadar of Birsa Munda Jail’s house in Ranchi
Raj Kishore Yadav alias Pappu Yadav, former MLA, Brahma Samaj Road, Deoghar.
Kanhaiya Khudania, Sahibganj
Abhay Saraogi, JW Marriott Road, Kolkata
Vinod Singh did WhatsApp chat with Chief Secretary level officer
A WhatsApp chat with a Chief Secretary level officer was found in Vinod Singh’s mobile. In this, Vinod Singh wrote in the message sent to the concerned officer that DC is creating hurdles in the work. Not letting it work. If this happens in your system, how will it work? To this, the Chief Secretary level officer wrote in reply that he would still talk to the DC on this matter.
ED action in illegal mining scam
Apart from Ranchi, Hazaribagh and Sahibganj, raids were also conducted in Kolkata and Jaipur.