LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, Sept 6: The recovery of two AK-47 police weapons from the rented residence of power broker Prem Prakash is going to be key evidence that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will place before the court to substantiate allegations that Prem Prakash had the patronage of police, politicians and powerful persons.
Prem Prakash is learnt to have confessed before ED about those who offered him security and hospitality and access to the power portal of Jharkhand.
It is alleged that two cops Mukesh Kumar and Shyamal Horo deployed for the security of Jharkhand chief Minister Hemant Soren were actually working as the bodyguard of Prem Prakash. It is said that they were doing this as per the instruction of senior officials. These cops even kept their weapons at the Ranchi residence of Prem Prakash which the ED seized during the raid on August 24.
The ED seized both weapons along with 60 bullets which will be used as an exhibit. The ED has asked Ranchi police to take necessary legal action. This has landed Ranchi police in a dilemma as officials are worried that the episode will open a can of worms that will sting many.
“The first PMLA raid against Prem Prakash was carried out on May 25 and the second on August 24. It is proved that the raid was no deterrent and he continued to enjoy bodyguard facility on the verbal order. The fact should be taken care of and needed to be investigated if two cops were missing from their duty at a sensitive and high profile place,” well placed sources aware of the probe said.
“There is no written order that may confirm that bodyguards were officially allotted to him. Security cover can be granted based on the threat perception. This is not the question of morality but the issue of legality. Isn’t it true that bodyguards were provided to him that he used for the furtherance of hidden objectives? It has been revealed that Prem Prakash was availing such facilities out of his proximity for a long time,” sources further added.
However, bosses of Jharkhand Police are in denial mode that the ED asked police to investigate and take legal action but they are aware that in the coming days it may cause trouble.
Ranchi police on its part has suspended both cops and they are likely to be terminated very soon. Sources in the police said it was a straight case of negligence of duty on the part of the cops for which they have been suspended. A show-cause was also issued to Ranchi Sergeant Major. Officially Ranchi police claimed that both cops kept their weapons with Prem Prakash to protect it from rain. But insiders said that cops were not reporting to CM security. There is no convincing reply as to whether a cop can dare abstain from security duty to a high profile for a long time and nobody noticed their continued absence.
Meanwhile, special Ranchi PMLA court on Tuesday sent Prem Prakash to Birsa Munda Central Jail in judicial custody after his 12 days police remand was over. He is a prime accused of the money laundering cases in Jharkhand that grabbed attention of national media owing to involvement of senior IAS Pooja Singhal, CM Hemant Soren’s MLA representative Pankaj Mishra among others.
