INDIA: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), accompanied by paramilitary forces, carried out raids at various locations in Jharkhand and West Bengal. The raids were carried out in connection to money laundering cases followed by illegitimate tenancy in the Indian Army’s properties.
The Central probe agency conducted raids in the residential and office premises of Kolkata-based businessman Amit Agarwal in Salt Lake. As per reports, Agarwal is a close aide of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
The alleged businessman was taken into custody because he has some important documents related to the alleged case of coal smuggling and illegal mining.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Police filed an FIR to investigate the alleged use of erroneous papers in selling and purchasing defense land.
The raid came into force after the Chief Minister didn’t appear in front of the ED in a money laundering case. He was informed to appear before the ED on Thursday for his active involvement in the money laundering case that was ensued by alleged illegal mining in the state.
On the other hand, the CM lashed BJP for purposely ruining his image. He claimed that the trap was made to topple his coalition government in the state.
In the recent past, the ED had filed a charge sheet before a special Ranchi court and issued an arrest warrant against Pankaj Mishra, a close aide of Soren, Bachhu Yadav, and Prem Prakash under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the same alleged illegal mining and extortion case in Jharkhand and Bihar.
The illegitimate money laundering cases and coal smuggling case is on the hit list of ED now. For the last few months, the investigation team has been carrying out raids in different parts of Bengal and Jharkhand.
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