VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Sept 16: The Enforcement Directorate on Friday filed a prosecution complaint against power broker Prem Prakash, Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s MLA representative Pankaj Mishra and one Bacchu Yadav who is a notorious criminal of Sahibganj.
The prosecution complaint (chargesheet) contains documents running over 4000 pages. It was submitted before the special PMLA court of Prabhat Kumar Sharma in Ranchi. The ED has stated that it has found evidence of money laundering worth over Rs 100 crore and the investigation is underway. The ED has also submitted a list of seizures of some movable assets including cash, vessels, crusher units and others possessed by accused persons. Details of over four dozen back accounts have been submitted that were primarily used for parking and routing of slush money. The ED has attached details of the field investigation to ascertain the extent of illegal mining.
“The allegations are related to money laundering through illegal mining and transportation in Sahibganj and the misuse of power to accumulate assets. The court has been requested to take cognizance of the matter. This is one of the many supplementary complaints that the ED may file,” well placed sources said.
Pankaj Mishra was arrested on July 20 and the ED was bound to submit the charge sheet within 60 days. Bacchu Yadav and Prem Prakash were arrested on August 4 and August 25 respectively.
In the chargesheet, the ED has alleged Pankaj Mishra for running a syndicate of illegal stone mining and transportation in Sahibganj. However, he was relatively a new entrant in the mining activity but within a short span he raised a whopping disproportionate assets which don’t match with his actual income. The ED has said that proceeds of crime were invested in purchasing immovable assets including prime land. The ED said that several high amount transactions were made through the bank accounts of the accused. Further it submitted documents to prove that the accused Pankaj Mishra was linked to several other suspects of illegal mining.
Bacchu Yadav has been termed as a key conduit of Pankaj Mishra who helped in illegal transportation of stone chips through inland water in the Ganga. Besides, he was their muscleman.
