By News18
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday raided eight locations in Hazaribagh and Ranchi. The searches are linked to an ongoing money laundering probe involving illegal sand mining and extortion against former Jharkhand minister Yogendra Sao, his family, and associates.
The investigation under the PMLA pertains to the generation of substantial proceeds of crime through activities such as extortion, illegal sand mining, and land grabbing.
The officials conducted searches at least eight locations since early morning on Friday. The action is being undertaken as per the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), reported PTI, citing sources.
Sao, a Congress leader and former agriculture minister of the state, was raided and questioned by the ED last year in connection with a money laundering case involving his MLA daughter, Amba Prasad.
An investigation was launched following 15 First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by the Jharkhand Police under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, and the Arms Act, 1959, against Sao, his family members, and his associates.
In the complaint, it has been alleged that Sao, Amba Prasad, along with their associates, are involved in various kinds of criminal activities such as extortion, collection of levy, illegal sand mining and land grabbing, as a result of which they have acquired proceeds of crime.
During the course of the search operation on March 12, 2024, an unexplained cash amount of approximately. Rs 35 lakhs, digital devices, fake stamps from circle offices and banks, and various incriminating documents, including handwritten receipts and diaries, were recovered and seized. Evidence related to illegal sand mining in the state of Jharkhand was also seized during the searches.
鈥淭he proceeds of crime generated from such criminal activities have been identified to be acquired in cash and subsequently utilised for further business activities and for the purchase of several immovable properties,鈥 ED then said in a statement.
(With inputs from agencies)