SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, Aug. 11: The ED today arrested power broker Prem Prakash in the multi-crore land scam in Ranchi. He is already lodged in the Birsa Munda jail in the Rs 1000 crore Sahibganj stone mining scam.
Notably, the ED has summoned Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren too on August 14 in the Ranchi land scam.
According to ED sources, Prem Prakash, interrogated by the agency a few days back in the jail, has been arrested in connection with the fraudulent transfer of one acre land at Cheshire home road to businessman Bishnu Agarwal, who is already under the custody of the ED and being grilled for spealing the beans. “A substantial amount in this fraudulent deal has gone to Prem Prakash,” sources added.
Former Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Chhavi Ranjan is also in jail in the land scam case.
ED investigation has revealed that one Rajesh Rai in connivance with Bharat Prasad, Md. Saddam Hussain, Afshar Ali, Imtiaz Ahmed and others created a forged deed of 1948, and on the basis of that executed power of attorney in favour of Imtiaz Ahmed and Bharat Prasad. Further, one of their accomplices namely Lakhan Singh became the confirming party in the deed and they executed a sale deed on February 6 2021 in favour of Punit Bhargava for an amount of Rs. 1,78,55,800. Punit Bhargava is one of the close associates of Prem Prakash and worked for him under his instructions.
“Subsequently, Punit Bhargava sold the said land to Bishnu Kumar Agarwal vide two sale deeds, both dated 01.04.2021, for an amount of Rs. 1,02,60,000 and Rs. 77,40,000.
The ED said that Agarwal in conspiracy with other persons and committed related criminal activities like fabrication of documents and forging of government. “Agarwal has close ties with Prem Prakash, who helped him in acquiring the said piece of land in an illegal manner. According to ED Assistant Director Deovrat Jha, Agarwal had knowledge about the ownership/nature of the land still he acquired it with the connivance of Prem Prakash.
