VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Nov 29: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has accused Pankaj Mishra, accused in illegal stone mining, to have made and received 300 phone calls from various persons including highly placed and influential people during his stay at RIMS since July 27. Notably, in October the ED nabbed his two associates Chandan Yadav and Suraj Pandit for allegedly providing him their mobile phones to talk to people.
The ED disclosed this before the special PMLA court of Prabhat Kumar Sharma while opposing his bail petition.
The ED further said that Pankaj Mishra is still carrying out his illegal activities through his associates and four such mobile phones have been identified and seized for the purpose of investigation.
The ED has stated that Pankaj Mishra in the judicial custody freely accessed mobile phones and he was in frequent contacts with Senior Police officials and other State officials of Jharkhand.
The ED alleged Pankaj Mishra being the MLA representative of Chief Minister Hemant Soren is enjoying power at the behest of a political party
“It is also revealed that Pankaj Mishra is being facilitated towards the access to mobile phones by his associates and the police personnel are providing security at RIMS, Ranchi while in judicial custody. Investigation has further revealed that during his continued stay at RIMS, i.e. since 27.07.2022, a total of about 300 calls have been made/received to various persons including certain highly placed and influential people,” the report states.
The above scenario, the ED claims, shows that the Jharkhand government has been dispensing resources to Pankaj Mishra as a reward for political patronage.
In the present case the agency has brought several instances before the court to show that Pankaj Mishra is an influential person.
The agency has claimed that Pankaj Mishra being highly influential is trying to get the base offence settled, or wiped off to avoid further investigation by ED.
However, Pankaj Mishra had claimed that he is quite innocent and has committed no offence. The ED falsely implicated him in the illegal mining case without proper enquiry and investigation in the case.
The illegal mining investigation was started on the basis of Barharwa P Case No. 85/2020 (RUD no. 2) against Pankaj Mishra and others who are the MLA representative of Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren. Pankaj Mishra stated that in the Barharwa case no charge sheet was submitted against him hence the money laundering investigation against him was bad in the eyes of law.
But the court has rejected his contention and said that the investigating officer of this case may have submitted a final report in the matter. But there is nothing on the case record to show that Pankaj Mishra has been finally discharged/ acquitted of the scheduled offence or the criminal case against him is quashed by the Court of competent jurisdiction.
Pankaj Mishra said that he had no role in the illegal mining. He has been carrying mining trade under valid license in Sahibganj district and adjoining areas and therefore, the allegation of control over the Barharwa Nagar Panchayat toll is merely a presumption.
He stated that in the other six FIRs he was accused only in Taljhari P.S. Case No. 146/2021 and in this case also the police submitted the final form as the case was not found to be true against him. He stated that during the raid and investigation no cash was recovered from his possession or from any firm belonging to him.
