The Ranchi zonal office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed its 5th supplementary prosecution complaint (known as charge-sheet in common parlance) before the special court (PMLA) here in connection with the criminal network orchestrated by Pankaj Mishra, the then representative of a senior politician, the central agency said on Wednesday.“This fifth supplementary complaint is part of an ongoing major money laundering investigation into the illegal mining and extortion syndicate operating in Sahibganj district of Jharkhand,” ED officials said.With this filing, the ED has now arraigned a total of 19 individuals and entities through six prosecution complaints (one original and five supplementary) filed in this matter.“The current charge-sheet brings to light the roles of eight additional individuals and two companies, who have been found to be integral to the criminal network orchestrated by Pankaj Mishra. The newly arraigned accused include Rajesh Yadav alias Dahu Yadav, identified as a key henchman who managed the illegal transportation of stone across the Ganga River and financed the fraudulent ferry tender to enable large-scale smuggling of minerals. Heera Lal Bhagat, operating from the Mirza Chowki area, used his firm M/s Jai Maa Bhavani Stone Works, to run illegal mining operations and was found in possession of over Rs 3.13 crore unaccounted cash, directly representing Proceeds of Crime,” the ED said in a statement, adding the fresh charge-sheet was filed on Monday.“The investigation also uncovered that Nimay Chandra Shil entered into a criminal conspiracy with the syndicate’s kingpin, Pankaj Mishra, by partnering with his wife to fraudulently secure a mining lease in return for a 50% profit share. Meanwhile, M/s Marine Infralink Logistics Pvt Ltd. and its director Yash Jalan were found to have knowingly provided the vessel MV Infralink-III to facilitate the syndicate’s illegal stone transport operations, receiving payments totalling Rs 2.75 crore derived from the syndicate’s illegal mining proceeds,” the ED added.So far, the ED has seized and frozen assets including over Rs 5.34 crore in cash, an inland vessel, five industrial stone crushers, multiple vehicles, and bank balances exceeding Rs 13.32 crore.“Notably, Rajesh Yadav alias Dahu Yadav remains absconding,” the ED said adding that further investigation is on.
