VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, May 28: The Enforcement Directorate is said to have detected some incriminating money trail between one mining department officer and chartered accountant, Suman Singh. It has reliably been learnt that a couple of mining officers transferred amounts to the account of Suman Singh despite the said mining department officer having no known personal and professional relationship with Suman Singh. The transfer of substantial amounts was done during the past couple of months.
It may be a matter of investigation whether or not the bribe was paid through digital mode. Suman Singh is the Chartered Accountant of IAS Pooja Singhal who was arrested by the ED on the charge of money laundering. Suman Singh used to sit in the anteroom of the official chamber of Pooja Singhal at the mining department. During the May 6 raid, the ED had seized Rs 19.31 crore from the office and residence of Suman Singh in Ranchi.
“So far at least a dozen persons have been questioned by the ED in the matter related to money laundering investigation against IAS Pooja Singhal Whosoever has been questioned by the ED there is a common question that if they know Suman Singh. I believe that all mining officers have been asked whether they knew Suman Singh,” said one of the reliable sources.
At least one mining department official summoned by the ED during the initial phase confessed that he was asked whether or not he knew Suman Singh. “Yes, this question was asked to me. I don’t know him. But I can’t disclose how detailed were the questions related to him and my reply therein. I am not supposed to disclose anything,” the official said.
This indicates that the ED doubts Suman Singh as a key conduit of suspected money laundering by the mining department secretary Pooja Singhal through the illegal mining. It is widely suspected that the suspected account transfer may be of the nature of money laundering.
The district mining officer of Sahibganj Bibhuti Kumar along with Pradeep Sah of Pakur, and Krishna Kumar Kisku of Dumka has been extensively questioned by the ED as these districts are the hub of illegal mining.
