ED seizes Rs 11.88 cr in mining case against Jharkhand CM's aide

New Delhi, July 15

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today issued a provisional attachment order under the Prevention of Money laundering Act (PMLA) to seize cash worth Rs 11.88 crore kept in bank accounts of Pankaj Mishra and others in connection with an alleged illegal mining case.

Mishra is the political representative of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in his home constituency. In a statement, the ED said the action had been taken following raids conducted at 19 locations in Sahibganj, Barhet, Rajmahal, Mirza Chauki and Barharwa in Jharkhand on July 8.

Five stone crushers that were being illegally operated and an equal number of “illegal firearm cartridges” had also been seized, it said, adding a trail of Rs 100 crore of proceeds of crime generated from alleged illegal mining had also been “unearthed”.