Tightening its grip on ex-ministers accused in the money laundering cases, Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday took physical possession of 10 acres of plot in Ranchi registered in the name of the relatives of former Health Minister Bhanu Pratap Shahi. A supplementary complaint was also filed against Kolebira MlA Anosh Ekka in the ED court here.
Both are facing charges related to money laundering and disproportionate assets case committed during the tenure of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda. CBI is probing them for possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income, while ED is pursuing a money laundering case against them.
"Physical possession of 10 acres of land belonging to Santoshi Devi and Ravindra Pratap, both relatives of the former Health Minister, has been taken by the ED," said an official requesting anonymity. The ED has already confiscated Shahi's assets worth Rs 7.98 crore under Money laundering Act.
In case of Anosh Ekka, on the other hand, a supplementary complaint was filed against him by the ED after attaching a property belonging to Ekka worth Rs 6.99 crore. Shahi is currently being investigated for corruption worth around Rs 7.97 crore by both CBI and Enforcement Directorate, which issued an arrest warrant against him on January 30 for repeatedly evading hearings.
Shahi is currently under judicial custody and has been lodged in Birsa Munda Central Jail after he surrendered before a CBI court on February 7 this year.
"ED officials contacted us seeking help seize the property belonging to the relatives of ex-MlA Bhanu Pratap Shahi at Mahuatand of Hotwasi village just behind the CRPF camp under Nagri Police Station in Ranchi," confirmed a source at Dhurwa Police Station.
The ED officials, in May 2014, had confiscated assets, including five commercial and residential properties in posh area of Gurgaon in Haryana, 10 acre of land at prime locations in Ranchi and 10 acre in Garhwa district and a few bank accounts in New Delhi.
The ED registered a case against Shahi in 2009 to probe money laundering. Other agencies like the CBI and Jharkhand Vigilance Department were investigating the criminal side of the case. Shahi was an accused in the Madhu Koda mining scam between 2006 and 2008.