The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has once again called the Sahibganj Superintendent of Police (SP) Naushad Alam in connection with the ED witness Vijay Hansda case on Wednesday, December 6. According to the reports, SP Naushad Alam was recently served a summon to appear before the agency on Wednesday. However, it’s been learned that the Sahibganj SP had once again chosen not to appear before the ED officials in the regional office of the agency in Ranchi citing official reasons.
राँची: SP नौशाद आलम ने ED से माँगी मोहलत। pic.twitter.com/0nOmGyvm76
— News18 Jharkhand (@News18Jharkhand) December 6, 2023
It’s been learned that Alam informed the ED about his unavailability on Wednesday, seeking more time to appear before the agency. Earlier, Alam had also chosen not to appear before the ED officials, citing similar reasons when he was summoned by the agency on November 22. Alam was later grilled by the sleuths of the agency on November 28 when he appeared before the agency after the agency sent him the second summons.
It was learned that Alam was grilled by the officials for allegedly arranging tickets for Bijay Hansda, a witness of ED in the alleged Rs 1,000 crore illegal mining case. The interrogation lasted for more than 12 hours, during which Alam was also asked to provide the details of his bank accounts and property, though it was learned that the senior police official reportedly did not cooperate with the officials during the course of the interrogation.
Who is Bijay Hansda?
A resident of Sahibganj district, Bijay Hansda, rose to the limelight after he filed a petition in court alleging that for the last two and a half years, stone mafias were carrying out illegal mining in connivance with government officials in Nimbu Pahdi of Sahibganj. In his petition, Hansda further alleged that the accused, including Pankaj Mishra, a close aide of Chief Minister Hemant Soren were using earthmoving machines and carrying blast.
Hansda had further alleged that his complaint against Mishra had fallen to deaf ears as no action was initiated against Mishra by the district officials. However, a month after filing the petition, Hansda turned hostile during the hearing of the matter on September 12 and claimed that he never witnessed any illegal mining on Nimbu Pahad and the accused, Pankaj Mishra, had never misbehaved with him.
CBI files FIR in the case
It is to be noted that the Central Bureau of Investigation has recently filed a First Information Report (FIR) based on the findings of a preliminary investigation that was commenced following an order by the Jharkhand High Court in August this year. According to the reports, the CBI has named Pankaj Mishra, Bachhu Yadav, Pavitra Yadav along with others, for their alleged involvement in the illegal mining on Nimbu Pahad.
It is to be noted that the accused, Pankaj Mishra, has already been investigated by the ED in a money laundering case pertaining to illegal mining, while Bachhu Yadav was arrested by the agency in August 2022.
Allegation on Naushad Alam
It is pertinent to mention here that the ED officials are investigating the role of SP, Naushad Alam in influencing ED witness Bijay Hansda, who turned hostile in the case. According to the reports, SP Alam allegedly arranged tickets for Hansda when the latter had travelled to New Delhi in connection with the case.
