Jharkhand: ED carries out multiple raids in illegal mining case

RANCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out searches at multiple locations in Jharkhand in connection with illegal mining and extortion cases.
Raids were mainly conducted on the premises linked to Prem Prakash. He is said to have strong political connections.
Prakash's residence and other locations have been raided in the past too. The fresh raids are being done after Pankaj Mishra, MLA representative of Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren was questioned.
The ED on July 19 arrested Mishra under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The move came after the agency seized cash amounting to Rs 11.88 crore lying in 37 bank accounts belonging to Mishra in the case.
The seized amount belonged to Mishra, one Dahoo Yadav and their associates. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 27 seized one inland vessel M.V. Infralink-III worth Rs 30 crore in connection with its ongoing investigation into the illegal mining and extortion case in Jharkhand.
The vessel was seized during a search operation conducted in the case of the involvement of Pankaj Mishra.
Previously, the ED had seized and frozen cash amounting to Rs 13.32 crore lying in 50 bank accounts, Rs 5.34 crore unaccounted cash, illegally operated stone crushers and seized various incriminating documents belonging to Pankaj Mishra, Dahoo Yadav and their associates under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 during searches conducted at 21 locations in Sahibganj, Barhet, Rajmahal, Mirza Chauki and Barharwa on July 8.
(With inputs from ANI)