VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, July 27: The ED today spotted the area where Hira Bhagat carried illegal mining.
The investigation of the illegal stone mining scam in Sahibganj has revealed mining mafias having carried unauthorized mining even in the prohibited areas. When the ED officials visited the mining site of Hira Bhagat they discovered Hira Bhagat and others allegedly carried illegal mining at Mundri and Bhutha and other places beyond the lease area. Notably, the ED had seized cash over Rs. five crore from his residence during the raid. The ED officials asked the DMO whether he was aware of the illegal mining going on in this area and whether any action was taken.
Today was the third day of ED officials who carried out an investigation of the mining done by suspected mining mafias within and outside of the lease areas. They were assisted by district mining officer Bibhuti Kumar, SDO Rahulji Anandji, other officials and four land surveyors.
Sahibganj district administration seals illegal crushers of Bacchu Yadav
As the ED is in the town, the Sahibganj district administration has suddenly woken up to stop illegal mining when it sealed an illegal stone crusher unit owned by Sanjay Yadav alias Kala Sanjay.
Kala Sanjay is the close relative of Bacchu Yadav who is a money laundering suspect. He runs Maa Shitla Stone Works. But well placed sources said that Bacchu Yadav has actually made the investment and evaded summons of the agency for his questioning in the illegal mining case.
According to the information, he was illegally carrying stone mining and running crusher units at Gadwa Pahad. Sahibganj DC Ramnivas Yadav on getting information ordered an inspection and sealed crusher units and the mining.
Fearing seizure Dahu Yadav shifts vessels to Farakka
In another development another prime suspect Dahu Yadav is said to have anchored his two vessels to a safer location. Dahu Yadav runs ferry service on the river Ganga and allegedly used ferry service for illegal transportation of stone chips to Bihar, Bengal and other places. On Tuesday, the ED seized one vessel ‘MV Infra Link-III’ valued Rs 30 Crore operated by him in collusion with Pankaj Mishra and others. Fearing further seizure, Dahu Yadav is learnt to have shifted two vessels towards Farakka via Rajmahal. Both ships were seen at Gadai Diyara speeding up towards Farakka. A Kolkata -based businessman is said to have leased out vessels to Dahu Yadav.
Pix: ED officials along with district officials at a stone mining site during inspection on Wednesday.
