VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, April 6: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has opened an investigation against convicted MLA Bandhu Tirkey in the money laundering case. The ED relaunched the investigation after the special CBI court convicted Bandhu Tirkey for possessing disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs. 7,22,167.
The ED waited till the judgment of the CBI court came in this case since a notional amount was involved. But once the court delivered its judgment, the ED decided for a deep investigation of the case. It has started looking for his properties and the agency has hinted for a deep investigation under provisions of Prevention of Money laundering Act.
On March 28, the court of Special Judicial Commissioner Prabhat Kumar Sharma awarded him three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs three Lakh.
Nevertheless, Bandhu Tirkey who is set to lose membership in the assembly said that he became a victim of the political conspiracy. He alleged that during the investigation a vilification campaign was started against him that he possessed houses and land properties in Delhi and Ranchi. But the CBI could not find out anything against him. He has filed a criminal writ petition at the Jharkhand High Court to challenge his conviction.
Notably, on Monday evening the CBI sent the judgment copy to the office of Jharkhand Assembly Speaker, Election Commission of India, Jharkhand State Election Commissioner, the Ranchi DC and the ED. Along with the judgment copy, the CBI also put up a note that in the wake of the judgment suitable legal action may be taken.
