In a significant step in the Jharkhand illicit mining case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at four new locations on Wednesday. Following the raids, the ED arrested Prem Prakash Sahu in Ranchi, a close aide to suspended IAS officer Pooja Singhal. In connection with the Jharkhand illegal mining case, ED officials conducted raids in Ranchi, Patna, Sasaram, and Varanasi.
In conjunction with the investigation, the ED raided Prem Prakash Sahu’s Ranchi residence and arrested him. This comes after the ED arrested businessmen Vishal Chaudhary and Nishit Kesari on Tuesday. The ED investigating team arrived at Sahu’s home in Ranchi’s Harmu locality and retrieved critical documents. A second address associated to Prem Prakash was also raided by the central agency team.
Previously, it was reported that Prem Prakash had fled to Nepal following the arrest of Pooja Singhal. The ED, however, later confirmed his arrest in Ranchi. According to sources, Sahu was seeking legal counsel from a renowned attorney before being apprehended by the investigation team. He is currently being questioned the ED.
Pooja Singhal has been placed in judicial detention till June 8th.
Meanwhile, in a money-laundering case, a special ED Court on May 25 ordered suspended IAS officer Pooja Singhal to be held in judicial custody until June 8. Singhal was detained by the ED on May 11 and later arrested. The ED raided six locations in Ranchi, Jharkhand, and Muzaffarpur on Tuesday, May 24, in connection with a money-laundering investigation against Jharkhand Mining Secretary Pooja Singhal.
On May 23, the central agency also questioned Sahebganj District Mining Officer (DMO) Bibhuti Kumar at the Ranchi zonal office in connection with a money-laundering investigation against Singhal. arrests of Singhal and Chartered Accountant (CA) Suman Kumar in connection with the case last week in a sealed cover.
