VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Oct 13: The Ranchi zonal office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is chock-full with complaints from large number of individuals and aggrieved parties hoping for some actions and investigations, reflecting a declining faith in state police.
Former BJP chief minister Babulal Marandi said that this shows people have lost their trust in the state government and police.
“This means people have lost their trust in the government and police to take action against corruption when the head of the state is patronizing corruption. Chief Minister says that he has no fear of the law and enforcement agencies. Such things demoralize and terrorize people and eventually, they are turning towards the ED,” said Babulal Marandi.
But then, such a situation can bring complications for the ED, said Marandi. “ED and the CBI are the specialized agencies having some limitations. The ED investigates predicate offenses only. But people want the ED to initiate an inquiry on its own,” he said.
Ranchi zonal office has three investigative rank officials who are burdened with over three dozen cases under investigation or the trial stage.
Complaints surged after actions against IAS Pooja Singhal
The phenomenal surge of complaints was witnessed right after the ED took decisive action against powerful IAS and mining secretary, Pooja Singhal, in May, arresting her in the MNREGA scam. And then came yet another series of actions in the illegal mining case worth Rs 1,000 Crore where the ED arrested Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s MLA representative Pankaj Mishra, powerbroker Prem Prakash, and Kolkata-based businessman Amit Agrawal.
Reliable sources said that the ED so far has received over 300 such criminal complaints. In August, the ED sorted out around two dozen complaints and requested the Jharkhand Police to provide an FIR/ charge sheet and any other documents to be relied upon if there are any. Information was sought against bureaucrats, cops and other officials, mining officers, mining mafias, well-placed businesspersons, and even MLA and the state minister. People are even coming forward to share if they have any intelligence input related to any case that the ED may or may not be investigating.
When Paharia tribal urged ED to take action against mafias who demolished their hills
Sahibganj district remained center stage of the biggest-ever actions of the ED against money laundering involving illegal stone mining and transportation. When the ED officials were doing a field investigation in Sahibganj to their surprise some Paharia tribal came and thanked them for taking action against mafias who snatched their hills. Initially, they were also unhappy with the ED for coming so late to catch accused persons. They even took the ED officials to the places where illegal mining was taking place.
One Vijay Hansda who had lodged a complaint against Pankaj Mishra and others for carrying out illegal mining at Nimbu Pahad had himself contacted the ED. His complaint was taken up for investigation.
“Sir jaise hi aap log Sahibganj se gaye yahan par fir se illegal mining fir shuru ho gaya hai,” (Sir right after you people left Sahibganj illegal mining started once again). The ED officials frequently get such calls from Sahibganj which show that people believe ED would stop and punish rapacious mining mafias who destroyed and flatten Rajmahal hills out of greed.
When Hazaribagh woman requested the ED to get her land freed
Random complaints are piling upon and people even visit the zonal office of the ED to get their complaints lodged.
In May when the ED officials were busy questioning Pooja Singhal and her chartered accountant Suman Kumar Singh, a woman from Hazaribagh named Chanchala Devi was standing outside the ED office and requested the guard to allow her to meet the ED official. She alleged the NTPC grabbed her 400 acres of land but no action was taken.
Saryu Roy approached ED for an in-depth inquiry against Prem Prakash and others
Even former minister Saryu Roy walked to the ED office with a dossier of proof against Prem Prakash and politicians and officials linked to him. He demanded the ED investigate in what capacity former CM Raghubar Das was using the SUV procured by a friend of Prem Prakash.
Besides, he also gave a document related to Prem Prakash allegedly lifting costly liquor worth Crore from different liquor shops without making any payment.
Expectations galore, trust quotient is on rising
A senior official who earlier served in the ED chuckled and said that it was a unique case where people are taking the ED as an alternative to state police and agencies.
“Some complaints may be motivated and frivolous but the majority are genuine. But ED has some limitations. It can investigate where predicate offense is registered and the matter involves money laundering. ED is not a police station but a specialized agency. But its shows people have hope in the ED. You can interpret in a varied manner,” said a senior official who earlier served in the ED.
The official said that the ED emphasizes a meticulous and scientific investigation to ensure the confiscation of properties and conviction of the accused.
“I must raise the toast for ED but with a rider that overload of cases and over-expectation will backfire. Ultimately we have to serve people,” said the official.
