Court sends Chhavi Ranjan to Ranchi's Birsa Munda Central Jail

RANCHI: The enforcement directorate (ED) on Friday produced arrested IAS officer and director of social welfare Chhavi Ranjan before the special PMLA court, which forwarded him to judicial custody. Ranjan is now lodged at the Birsa Munda Central Jail.
The ED arrested Ranjan on Thursday night after interrogating him for over 10 hours at its zonal office here in connection with land scams in the Ranchi district and money laundering.
On Friday, the ED produced Ranjan before the court at about 3 pm and filed a petition praying for a 10-day remand. In its remand prayer, the central agency pleaded that it required his custody to corroborate his statements with the evidence gathered by it during investigations.
The ED also said it also aims to ascertain the role of other alleged/suspected persons and beneficiaries involved in the case and to identify the proceeds of crime acquired by the accused. The central agency has further prayed that during the questioning so far, the accused is “withholding information and showing non-cooperation”.
It also stated that the accused may create further hindrances in the investigation as he is an influential person. The court has, however, not issued any order for the remand on Friday.
Earlier, Dr Satyendra Kumar examined their pulse, blood pressure, sugar and general health condition of Ranjan and found him normal. Ranjan’s Covid test report was also negative.