VIJAY DEO JHA
The Enforcement Directorate suspects the role of the district mining officers of Dumka, Pakur Sahibganj in the money laundering through illegal mining.
On Monday, the mining officers of Dumka Krishan Chandra Kisku and Pradeep Kumar Sah of Pakur turned up at the Ranchi office of the agency after they were summoned.
However, the mining officer of Sahibganj Vibhuti Kumar, has requested the ED to give him some time as he is busy in the marriage of his daughter and he is on leave till May 20.
The ED has hinted their suspected role while submitting a petition before the special PMLA court to seek extension of police remand of IAS Pooja Singhal and her Chartered accountant Suman Singh.
The enforcement directorate has said that based on incriminating materials seized during searches, various suspected persons including three district mining officers and witnesses have been called for question. Their statement and revelation are needed to be examined and corroborated for which the ED needs police remand of Pooja Singhal and Suman Singh.
The ED informed the court that the digital devices, including mobile phones of accused persons were sent to the central forensic lab to retrieve the data. “The ED got a working copy of the data which is voluminous. To examine and verify the data their further police remand is required,” the ED said.
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The ED said that during raids cash worth Rs 19.31 crore was seized from residence of Suman Singh. But it is yet not clear that who else are the owners of this cash. The ED said that it wants to know from both that who else are involved in money laundering and what is the source of properties raised by them.
Pooja Singhal was originally arrested in the MNREGA project scam in Khunti district. The ED said that there are many secrets and layers of the scam in the MANREGA project which Pooja Singhal has not revealed. That’s why her interrogation is required.
He sent a time petition through the Sahibganj DC that the marriage of his daughter is scheduled on May 17 hence he needs to be in Sahibganj to discharge his duty as father. He has said that he will be available for questioning anytime after May 20.
The mining officer of Palamu, Anand Kumar so far has not turned up before the ED.
The ED sent them summons to join the money laundering probe against IAS Pooja Singhal who is accused of committing a scam in the MNREGA projects in Khunti and Chatra district. Besides, she is also accused of having patronized illegal mining as secretary of the mining department. Money was laundered through which money was laundered.
It also said that the investigation into the purchase of land for the Pulse Hospital and equipment for the hospital require their interrogation hence their remand period should be extended.
