ED summons Bihar-based Maoist leader, wife and son

The Enforcement Directorate here today issued summons to top Maoist leader Madan Sahni, who allegedly acquired property in the name of his wife who is an Anganwadi worker, an ED release said here. Along with Sahni, summonses have also been issued to his wife Chandeshwari Devi and son Rohit, who has assisted his father "in various Maoist operations and also collected levy from locals", the release said. The father-son duo has been named in at least 20 FIRs relating to murder, extortion and dacoity. The ED release said Sahni has "acquired immovable properties in the name of his wife, who is working as an Anganwadi sevika.

He has also made investments in real estate. The source of all his investments and deposits with banks are under investigation". A self-styled area commander of the CPI (Maoist), Vaishali-Muzaffarpur Sub Zonal Committee, and a former secretary of the outfit's Bihar UP Simant Regional Committee, Sahni has been asked to appear at the ED office between March 6 and March 8. "ED has gathered that local MLAs are also paying levy to him for getting favourable condition for business as well as political benefits," the release said. "One MLA, who runs a construction company which has been carrying out many railway projects in north Bihar, also paid levy to him. The nexus between the Maoist and politicians is also under investigation," it added. The ED had earlier this month attached property worth Rs 86 lakh of another Bihar-based Maoist leader Sandeep Yadav in the first of its kind action against a naxal under money laundering laws.

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