VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, July 12: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s representative Pankaj Mishra who was supposed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate today for questioning is said to have fallen ill. He complained pancreas problem and got admitted at a Sahibganj-based hospital.
The ED wants to question his alleged involvement in money laundering after the agency carried out raids at his premises in Sahibganj in a tender scam case.
There are hints that the ED would confront him with his other associates especially Vishnu Yadav who is his business partner in the stone mining. Vishnu Yadav has been summoned to appear on July 14.
During the raid on Friday, the agency seized several documents including partnership deeds among many suspects of money laundering like Krishna Sao, Bhagwan Bhagat, and others. Besides, the ED is said to have recovered many operational official documents from the premises of suspects. These documents are sensitive in nature which a private person in condition can possess or access. It is believed that Pankaj Mishra would be questioned about his associates, business concerns and many other things.
Sahibganj-based jeweller Sanjay Diwan has been asked to turn up for questioning on July 13. He is the promoter of Sanjay Diwan Jewellers Private Limited. He is alleged to have helped in laundering slush funds generated out of the illegal mining. It is said that a sizable recovery has been made from the premises but the ED has not disclosed anything officially so far.
Bacchu Yadav, another key associate of Pankaj Mishra, was called for questioning on July 18.
On Friday, the ED raided the premises of Pankaj Mishra and his associates. They include Dahu Yadav, Vishnu Yadav, Sonu Singh, Sunil Yadav, Bacchu Yadav, Raju Bhagat, Patru Singh, Twinkle Bhagat, Krishna Sao, Nimai Seal, Subroto Pal, Bhagwan Bhagat, Kanhaiya Khudania, his uncle Bedu Khudania. Sanjay Diwan and Bhabhesh Bhagat.
Meanwhile, the ED has deposited the entire seized cash at the Main Branch of the State Bank of India at Sahibganj.
