RANCHI: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has conducted raids on around over 20 locations across three states as part of its ongoing investigation into the alleged illegal mining scam worth around Rs 1000 crore at Nimbu Pahadi area of Sahibganj district.
As many as 13 locations have been raided in Jharkhand’s Sahibganj, one in Gumla and 3 others in capital city of Ranchi. The sleuths of the agency also conducted extensive searches at two locations in West Bengal’s Kolkata and one in Bihar’s capital Patna as part of their crackdown.
In a press release issued, the agency informed that the raids at separate places has led to the recovery of over Rs. 60 lakhs in cash, more than 1 kg of gold, 1.2 kg of silver, gold ornaments, mobile phones, 61 live cartridges (9mm), property sale deeds, documents linked to investments and shell companies, agreements papers and other incriminating documents.
Illegal mining case in Jharkhand | CBI conducts raids at 16 locations in 3 States including Jharkhand, West Bengal and Bihar. Rs 50 lakh in cash, one kg of gold and a few pieces of silver jewellery recovered
(Photo source: CBI) pic.twitter.com/vAVZhf6zrg
— ANI (@ANI) November 5, 2024
CBI’s investigation into the case has revealed that large-scale illegal mining activities in Sahebganj district allegedly caused substantial losses to the government, primarily through unpaid royalties and the violation of mining laws.
Field investigations suggest that key individuals and entities were allegedly involved in this operation using multiple methods to conceal their activities and divert illicitly obtained resources/money. Initial investigation gathered evidence which revealed the involvement and nexus of key individuals and firms to carry out the illegal mining activity and conceal the proceeds thus obtained.
Raids conducted on November 5, targeted the premises of suspects identified through ongoing investigations. The CBI continues to probe the involvement of these individuals and organizations as the investigation progresses.
Notably, the state government had earlier moved to the apex court against the Jharkhand High Court’s decision of dismiss its petition against a CBI probe into the matter.
The state government, in the petition before High Court while challenging the First Information Report (FIR), mentioned that no consent had been taken by the CBI under the Delhi Special police Establishment Act 1946. Though the petition filed by the State government was dismissed by the Jharkhand High Court in February.
It is noteworthy that the CBI launched a probe into the matter on the basis of a High Court order directing the central agency to conduct a preliminary investigation into the allegation of illegal mining in August last year.
The case was registered by the CBI in 2023 on November 20, under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, Arms Act, SC/ST Act, and Jharkhand Mines and Minerals Concession Rules, based on a directive from the Jharkhand High Court dated August 18, 2023. A case of money laundering in regard with the alleged illegal mining at Nimbu Pahadi was also being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED)
Earlier, the CBI had raided a number of premises linked to Pankaj Mishra, a key figure and ED’s accused in the illegal mining case on Sahibganj’s Nimbu Pahadi, through which Rs 1000 crore were generated illegally, according to the ED findings.
In the raids conducted by the CBI team in December last year, it had recovered many incriminating documents. The raids conducted by the CBI after the agency filed a First Information Report (FIR) based on the findings of a preliminary investigation.
ED’s Investigation into the matter
It is worth mentioning that the ED is also investigating a money laundering case in connection with the illegal mining at Nimbu pahadi. The ED had initiated its investigation into the matter on the basis of an FIR filed in the case in Sahibganj district.
Earlier, the officials of ED had raided around a dozen of locations linked to government officials and close aides of Chief Minister Hemant Soren in connection with the case in January this year.
It was then reported that separate teams of the ED raided premises linked to Sahibganj Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Rajendra Dubey, Sahibganj Deputy Collector (DC), Ramnivas Yadav, media advisor of CM Hemant Soren, Pintu alias Abhishek Prasad and others.
The agency had also conducted raids at more than 25 locations pertaining to the case, following which Mishra along with others key accused in the case were arrested in the year 2022. The ED had also issued summoned CM Hemant Soren in connection with the case in November 2022.
Illegal mining at Nimbu Pahadi
The case came to limelight after Bijay Hansda, a resident of Sahibganj district 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 had further alleged that the accused, including Pankaj Mishra, an alleged close aide of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, was using earthmoving machines and carrying blasts in the region. Hansda had also alleged that his complaint against Mishra had fallen on 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 last year and claimed that he never witnessed any illegal mining on Nimbu Pahad and that the accused, Pankaj Mishra, had never misbehaved with him.
Later on, Hansda also travelled to New Delhi to quash the High Court’s order for a preliminary inquiry into the matter by the CBI, though the apex court had then refused to stay the High Court’s order. It is pertinent to mention here that the ED officials had also summoned Superintendent of Police (SP), Naushad Alam in connection with allegedly influencing the ED’s witness, Bijay Hansda.
