KOLKATA: Vikas Mishra — the brother of Trinamool Congress leader Vinay Mishra — who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday, had allegedly stashed away nearly Rs 730 crore in connivance with Vinay.
The ED, which arrested Vikas from New Delhi, has gone through statements of more than 40 people so far.
Investigators, looking into the money laundering angle of the illegal coal mining case in Bengal, have reasons to believe that the Mishra brothers were hand in glove with prime accused Anup Majee.
Majee, who allegedly used his political connections to continue illegal mining, paid the Mishra brothers who in turn forwarded the money to key links. Central agencies, including CBI and ED, have till now conducted searches on 49 premises. “We have gathered incriminating evidence in connection with the case,” an ED official said.
Sources in ED said investigators, based on the evidence gathered so far, feel that Majee had mopped up Rs 1,300 crore through illegal mining. A major chunk of the money was allegedly given to the Mishra brothers. The two are also believed to be involved in the cross-border cattle racket, which the agencies are investigating. Majee and Vinay are still on the run.