In the ongoing probe into illegal mining and extortion in Jharkhand, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has further seized one inland vessel styled as MV Infralink-III bearing registration number WB 1809 during a search conducted on Tuesday.
The estimated cost of the vessel is around Rs 30 crore. The said inland vessel was being operated illegally without having any permit from Sukargarh Ghat, Sahibganj. The seized vessel was being operated at the behest of Rajesh Yadav alias Dahu Yadav in collusion with Pankaj Mishra, key political aide of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and others for transporting illegally mined stone chips/stone boulders, the agency said. An FIR number 84/2022 dated July 26, 2022 has been lodged by Muffasil police station against the owner of the vessel MV INFRALINK-III under Section 25/30 of Bengal Ferries Act, 1885 and various Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).“The seizure of the vessel was preceded by freezing of two illegally operated stone crushers of MaaAmba Stone Works operated by Bishnu Yadav and Pavitra Yadav along with freezing of three Hyva trucks found at Mauza Majhikola, Sahibganj carrying illegally quarried stone chips/boulders without having any mining challans during a search conducted on Monday by the ED,” it said in a statement. Another FIR 181/22 dated July 26, 2022 in this regard has also been lodged under Section IPC sections relating to theft and concealment of stolen property at Girwabadi, Sahebganj. Besides, one illegal mine situated at Mauza Simaria, Sahebganj operated by Bishnu Yadav and others has been identified, it said.
Another mine has been identified at Mauza Demba, Sahibganj where mining has exceeded far beyond the leased area. “The quantification of the excess illegal mining done at the above site has been estimated around 37.5 million cubic feet which has remained undeclared and concealed. The processed value of the mined stone chips/boulders is estimated to be around Rs 45 crore,” the agency said.
An ED team has been visiting Sahibganj District of Jharkhand from Monday and undertaking a joint survey in conjunction with Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board, District Mining Office, Sahibganj, District forest office, Sahibganj and other officials of Sahibganj to identify the beneficiaries of such illegal mining activities and to investigate the proceeds of crime acquired through illegal mining activities. Earlier, ED had arrested Pankaj Mishra, resident of Sakrugarh, Sahibganj on July 19, it said.