LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, Feb. 28: The special PMLA court of Prabhat Kumar Sharma today granted five days’ police remand of the Jharkhand government’s Chief Engineer Virendra Ram to the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
He was produced before the court right after his five days police remand was over. Seeking extension of his police remand, the ED said that Virendra Ram is the part of a very big and high-level financial crime for which his further questioning is required.
The ED stated that he is still not disclosing facts related to scam mainly done through irregularities in managing tenders. The ED said that involvement of several other suspects has surfaced during investigation.
The agency told the court that during the course of statement in the police remand and during the search, it is found Virendra Ram used to receive 0.3 percent of tender amount from the companies which were awarded tender, as commission. Further, it is revealed that the accused played a pivotal role in managing the tenders and allocation of works to private entities and the percentage of commission is distributed in a mechanised manner upto higher ups of the government.
The agency said that his further police remand is required as name of some senior bureaucrats and politicians have emerged which is being investigated by the ED and certain highly placed officials/ politicians are involved in this nexus and the huge payments were usually received in cash which were later laundered which needs to be unearthed.
The ED stated that from the statement of various witnesses and Virendra Ram, it is established that huge amount of proceeds of crime was integrated in mainstream economy through fake/fictitious entities and shell companies and various high value cash transactions were made by his CA for him. Hence, his further police custody was needed. The ED also said that many new facts have emerged during investigation on the basis of which many persons are summoned and searches are conducted after his arrest.
The ED alleged that Virendra Ram is deliberately withholding the information regarding the source of funds out of which movable/immovable assets were acquired.
Meanwhile, the ED during a raid at the residence of assistant engineer Ram Pukar Ram recovered some digital devices and some papers. His role is suspected in managing tenders of the Rural Development Department. He was freed after questioning.
The ED is learnt to have interrogated two contractors whose SUVs were found in the possession of Virendra Ram. They are learnt to have claimed that Virendra Ram forcefully took away their SUVs. On being asked whether they lodged any FIR against the grab, they could not give any satisfactory reply.
