ED expands ambit to unravel ‘₹100cr scam’

Ranchi/Dumka: The four-monthlong Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) investigations in Jharkhand that started early in May with a probe into the MNGNREGA scam in Khunti during the 2008-2010 period under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, have now been extended to include current illegal mining activities.
The agency has arrested five persons, questioned nearly two dozens people, seized cash, bank accounts and property worth Rs 66.5 crore, raided about 60 places across the country and claimed to have detected misappropriation of Rs 100 crore. The agency said it was trying to untangle the complex network where bribes were given and received among culprits, bureaucrats and politicians, and identify all accused.
On May 6, the ED raided 36 premises belonging to suspended mining and industries secretary Pooja Singhal, a 2000-batch IAS officer, her businessman husband Abhishek Jha, their family members and associates, and Jha’s chartered accountant Suman Kumar in the MGNREGA scam and money laundering under its case number ECIR/PAT/14/2012.
Around Rs 19.76 crore were seized from the house of Kumar, who was arrested a day later on May 7. Singhal and her husband were called for questioning but only she was arrested on May 11. Earlier, Ram Binod Sinha, the former junior engineer in Khunti, was arrested in connection with the scam. The ED issued a statement accusing Singhal of accepting kickbacks in the MGNREGA dealings.
After the interrogation of Singhal and Jha, the agency said it got hints of illegal mining and laundering the ill-gotten money, following which it expanded its scope of investigation. Soon after, the agency summoned chief minister Hemant Soren’s representative in the Barhait constituency, Pankaj Mishra and his associate Bachhu Yadav. Both were also arrested.
Dozens of people were also interrogated in the course of the ED’s investigations. Those questioned included Abhishek Prasad, the press advisor of CM, the DMOs of East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Saraikela Kharsawan, Pakur, Dumka, Sahebganj and Ranchi. Several persons close to the power corridors, namely Prem Prakash and Vishal Choudhary, Pankaj’s close associate Dahu Yadav, jeweller Sanjay Diwan, stone traders Bhagwan Bhagat, Bhawesh Bhagat and Patru Singh have also been interrogated so far.
Raids and searches were carried out at about 60 premises across the country, particularly in Jharkhand in the past-two-and-half months. The May 6 raids on 36 places were conducted in Ranchi, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Faridabad, Gurugram and Muzaffarpur. Another 21 places were raided in Sahibganj and its surrounding areas on July 8 in connection with illegal mining and money laundering.