Ranchi: The Enforcement Directorate conducted raids in around 18 locations in Jharkhand in a case of money laundering against Chief Minister Hemant Soren's political representative Pankaj Mishra and others. The central probe agency also seized Rs 5.32 crore in cash from the raids, PTI reported.
Sources informed that raids are still going on at certain locations.
The raids, launched on Friday in the Sahibganj district and in towns there such as Berhait and Rajmahal, were part of the investigations on alleged irregularities in granting toll plaza tenders in the state.
The case was based on an FIR lodged by the state police itself. Meanwhile, ED is also probing potential links between alleged illegal coal mining operatives and those involved in toll plaza tenders in the state.
In May, ED raided IAS officer Pooja Singhal, her businessman husband, and others as part of a money-laundering investigation.
After Pooja's arrest, the 2000-batch officer was suspended from office by the state government. She was in charge of Jharkand mining. ED, who had arrested her, had filed a charge sheet against her others before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ranchi early this week.