LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, Aug. 18: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is suspecting the role of a local BJP leader of Santhal Pargana in influencing Vijay Hansda, an important witness in the Rs 1000 crore mining scam in Sahibganj, to turn hostile.
The said leader, who goes by Hansda surname, also unsuccessfully contested the last assembly election as a BJP nominee.
It was learnt that the agency has questioned the said leader about his role in influencing Vijay Hansda who is a key witness of the agency.
According to sources, the said BJP leader is suspected to have brokered this deal between Vijay Hansda and the illegal mining accused. However, he denied his involvement and said that he was not acquainted with Vijay Hansda. But, the agency is said to have some concrete evidence suggesting a suspected role of that local BJP leader.
Vijay Hansda had filed a complaint regarding illegal mining at Nimbu Pahad in Sahibganj district and this case was taken up by the agency. Later on, Vijay Hansda was arrested by the district police in a criminal case. He was allegedly pressurised to withdraw that case.
Vijay Hansda, later on, denied that he had any intention to withdraw his complaint and said that his signature was forcibly taken. He further filed a petition before the Jharkhand High Court to seek a CBI inquiry into his complaint.
Now out on bail, Vijay Hansda filed a fresh petition before the high court to withdraw the previous petition in which a CBI inquiry was sought. He made frivolous allegations against his advocates stating that they secured his fake wakalatnama to file a petition. He denied having given his consent for that petition. But the court of Justice Sanjay Dwivedi on Thursday rejected his petition and the matter has been listed for hearing today.
Notably, Vijay Hansda has been ignoring summon issues by the special PMLA court to record his statement. As per the information, he was asked to appear before the court on August 5. Well-placed sources confided that the agency has some digital evidence which suggests that Vijay Hansda had demanded Rs 90 lakh from Prakash Chandra Yadav to stand as a witness. On the other hand, people from the opposite side, according to sources, are ready to pay him any amount. Prakash Chandra Yadav is a local businessman involved in the stone mining. He is the main complainant and a witness of the agency in the illegal mining. Dahu Yadav is a key accused of Rs 1000 Crore illegal mining and he is currently absconding. Bishnu Yadav is a key suspect. Notably in this case, the ED arrested and chargesheeted Pankaj Mishra who is the MLA representative of Jharakhand CM Hemant Soren.
