The Central probe agency—Enforcement Directorate (ED) today sent three associates of suspended Chief Engineer Virendra Ram of Rural Works Department on remand for 5 days. Those who have been given to ED on remand include Neeraj Mittal, Ram Prakash Bhatia and Tarachand. ED will take them on remand from tomorrow. Neeraj Mittal was arrested from Delhi recently. After which he was produced in the court of Special ED Judge PK Sharma from where he was sent to jail. This associate of Virendra Ram is accused of misappropriating his illegal money. By giving an application on behalf of ED, it was said that there is a need to interrogate them. ED will interrogate him regarding his black money by showing him the property documents of Virendra Ram.
Few days back, ED court extended the judicial custody of Virendra Ram till July 7. On April 21, a charge sheet was filed in the ED court against Virendra Ram, his brother Alok Ranjan, Virendra Ram's wife Rajkumari Devi and father Genda Ram.
The ED team has seized assets worth more than Rs 39.28 crore of Virendra Ram. The central probe agency has alleged that the seized property has been acquired by Virender by extorting commission from the tender. On February 22, during a raid on the residence of Virendra Ram, he was arrested by the ED from his Ashok Nagar residence in Ranchi. During the raids at Virendra Ram's hideouts, ED got cash worth more than 40 lakhs and jewellery worth 1.5 crores.
In another development Birsa Munda Central Jail Superintendent Hamid Akhtar who was summoned by ED for questioning failed to appear before the ED office today. He is likely to appear before ED on Tuesday.
The probe agency has summoned Akhatar after it came to fore that the jail superintendent assisted the ED accused in the prison by violating jail regulations and did not provide adequate assistance to the probe agency in its investigation.
The probe agency will question jail superintendent about the circumstances that led to one of its accused and power broker Prem Prakash, meeting another accused and suspended IAS officer, Chhavi Ranjan, in the jail
Despite a court order, the jail superintendent did not provide CCTV footage to the ED and thus did not cooperate in the investigation.
The ED in course of investigation of laundering of money earned by illegal mining, tender management, MNREGA scam and other illegal means has arrested at least 10 important persons, including two IAS officers, two Kolkata-based businessmen, aide of chief minister Hemant Soren, a chief engineer, chartered accountant besides others. All those arrested are in Birsa Munda Central Jail and thus the probe agency is serious about the acts and omissions of the jail superintendent.