ED seizes ₹11.88 crore from Jharkhand CM Soren’s aide Pankaj Mishra, others
The Hindu
The raids were part of an investigation into alleged illegal mining in the State
The Enforcement Directorate on Friday said it has seized ₹11.88 crore of cash kept in bank accounts of Pankaj Mishra, the political representative of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, and others as part of a money laundering investigation into alleged illegal mining in the State.
The action comes after the federal agency raided at least 19 locations in Sahibganj, Barhet, Rajmahal, Mirza Chauki and Barharwa of the State on July 8.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had then seized "incriminating" documents and ₹5.34 crore "unaccounted" cash.
"Cash amounting to Rs 11.88 crore lying in 37 bank accounts belonging to Pankaj Mishra, Dahoo Yadav and their associates has been seized under the Prevention of Money laundering Act in the illegal mining case," the agency said in a statement.
Five stone crushers that were being illegally operated and an equal number of "illegal firearm cartridges" have also been seized, it said.
"The evidences collected during the course of investigation including statements of various persons, digital evidences and documents revealed that the seized cash/bank balance is derived from illegal mining being rampantly done in Sahibganj area including the forest area," the ED said.
It said a trail of ₹100 crore of proceeds of crime generated from alleged illegal mining has also been "unearthed" after these raids.
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