ED conducts raids at 18 locations in money-laundering probe against Jharkhand CM’s aide

New Delhi, July 8: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted raids at 18 locations in Jharkhand as part of a money-laundering investigation against Pankaj Mishra, the political representative of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, and some others.

The searches are being conducted in Sahibganj district and its towns like Berhait and Rajmahal.

According to officials, as many as 18 locations are being searched and the action is being undertaken under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The money laundering case stems from a state police FIR and the ED is also looking at purported links between alleged illegal coal mining operatives and those involved in operations of toll plaza tenders in Jharkhand, officials said.

The federal agency in May raided IAS officer Pooja Singhal, her businessman husband and others as part of a money laundering investigation against them. Singhal was arrested after the central probe agency conducted raids at more than 18 places -- Ranchi, Chandigarh, Noida, Mumbai, Kollata, Muzaffarpur, Saharsa, and in several parts of NCR.

The 2000-batch officer, who was holding the charge of Jharkhand mining secretary, was suspended by the state government following her arrest by the ED.

A charge sheet was filed against her and others by the agency before a special PMLA court in Ranchi early this week.