More than 70 days after its raids in the MGNREGA scam and seven days after raids related to illegal mining in the State the Enforcement Directorate today came out with a media statement stating that it has recovered cash and bank balance of Rs 36.58 crore, illegally generated from Mining etc.
According to a press communique issued by ED on Friday the Central agency said that it has seized cash amounting to Rs 11.88 crore lying in 37 bank accounts belonging to Pankaj Mishra, Dahoo Yadav and their associates under the Prevention of Money laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in the illegal mining case. Earlier, ED had conducted searches at 19 locations in Sahibganj, Barheit, Rajmahal, Mirza Chauki and Barharwa resulting in seizure of various incriminating documents and Rs 5.34 Crore unaccounted cash on July 7.
During this search operation, ED has also seized five stone crushers that were being illegally operated from the site and also five illegal firearm cartridges. The evidence collected during the course of investigation including statements of various persons, digital evidence and documents revealed that the seized cash/bank balance is derived from illegal mining being rampantly done in Sahibganj area including the forest area. A trail of further Rs 100 Crore of proceeds of crime generated from illegal mining has also been unearthed and being worked upon, said the Central agency.
Earlier in the month of May, 2022, searches at 36 locations connected with the
MGNREGA Scam were conducted under PMLA resulting in seizure of Rs 19.76 Crore cash. The searched premises included premises of suspended IAS officer Pooja Singhal and her associates. In this case also, evidences collected during the course of investigation including those collected during the searches and statements of various persons revealed that the major chunk of the seized cash was derived from illegal mining and was belonging to senior bureaucrats and politicians. Pooja Singhal and Suman Kumar, CA were arrested in this case and are presently in judicial custody.
A prosecution complaint has been filed in this case and further investigation is in progress, it stated.