VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Aug 11: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned the members of the Sahibganj Nav Yatayat Sahyog Samiti Limited (SNYSSL) which operates ferry service in the river Ganga. The ED suspects that the SNYSSL depositing Rs 5.721 crore cash amount to the Katihar district administration to secure ferry service right on the river Ganga was part of the proceeds of the crime.
The SNYSSL had claimed that the amount was raised from members of the Samiti. But the ED suspects that Pankaj Mishra and Dahu Yadav who control the SNYSSL had laundered money through such investments. Moreover, Bacchu Yadav who looked after the ferry service on behalf of Pankaj Mishra and Dahu Yadav, is learnt to have disclosed that the money belonged to Dahu Yadav and Pankaj Mishra. Further, he has disclosed that overloaded cargo ships carrying stone chips were ferried to Bihar and other parts without having any transportation chalan. The illegal stone mining and the illegal transportation, Bacchu Yadav said, were two faces of the same coin and such illegal transportation fetched a huge amount of unaccounted money. He further disclosed that Pankaj Mishra, Dahu Yadav, government officials, including Bihar and other high profile persons were the key beneficiaries.
In the light of the revelation made by Bacchu Yadav, the ED decided to question the SNYSSL members. Sources said that Hulas Choudhary, the secretary of SNYSSL, along with two office bearers of the SNYSSL arrived at the zonal office of the ED in Ranchi. Insiders of the agency said that the SNYSSL exists only on paper and it is actually controlled by Pankaj Mishra and Dahu Yadav. The ED arrested Pankaj Mishra whereas Dahu Yadav skipped multiple summons of the ED.
During the raid in Sahibganj, the ED had seized some documents pertaining to the ferry service where names and amounts are mentioned
Earlier, the ED had directed the SNYSSL to submit log books related to transportation of trucks and other items to Bihar through the ferry service on the river Ganga. The SNYSSL runs ferry services on the river Ganga between Sahibganj and Katihar district in Bihar. The SNYSSL was asked to submit details of dispatch made from notified ferry ghats in Sahibganj.
Bacchu Yadav sent to jail
Meanwhile, Bacchu Yadav was produced before the special PMLA court of Prabhat Kumar Sharma. His six days’ police remand was over today. He was sent to judicial custody and will be produced before the court on August 18. “His police remand was no more required hence his judicial custody was requested. Investigation is going on,” sources said.
