ED to seek extension of suspended IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan’s remand

Ranchi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday interrogated suspended IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan and one Jayant Karnad in connection with land scams, including the illegal sale of 4.55 acres, which is currently under the Army’s possession, in Morabadi mouza in Ranchi city.
The ED has interrogated Ranjan for the past four days under custody. The central agency is, however, facing resistance and denials by the latter. The investigating agency said that since Ranjan was not cooperating with the probe, it has decided to pray the court for a further extension of his remand, which ends on Friday.
The ED also questioned Jayant Karnad who claimed that the 4.55 acres in Morabadi mouza was his and had started selling it. It may be noted here that Karnad is a family member of B M Laxman who had rented out the land to the Army. There is an ongoing dispute between the Army and Karnad over the property and the latter has secured favourable decisions from the court regarding his claims.
Meanwhile, Dilip Ghosh, the owner of Jagatbandhu Tea Estate Private Limited, which had illegally bought the Army land using a fake owner, failed to appear before the ED on Wednesday. He has also not submitted any excuse for his non-appearance.
Ghosh was summoned by the ED in connection with the land scam. The ED has issued summons to around one dozen persons asking them to appear before it in connection with the land scam in the coming days.
These private individuals are either buyers of the land on fake papers or are privy to the matter of sale and purchase of the said land parcel.