Birsa Munda Jail Superintendent and three others summoned on conspiracy charges against ED

Ranchi: Allegations of a conspiracy against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) by inmates involved in a land scam and housed in the Birsa Munda Central Jail, Ranchi, have led to recent developments. Following an ED team raid on November 3, ED has issued summons to Birsa Munda Central Jail’s Jail Superintendent, Hamid Akhtar, Jailer Naseem Khan, and an individual known as “Bada Babu.” Bada Babu has been asked to appear at ED’s Ranchi zonal office on the 7th, the Jailer on the 8th, and the Jail Superintendent on the 9th for questioning.

The ED had conducted a raid at Birsa Munda Central Jail on the evening of November 3, prompted by information obtained during surveillance related to a money laundering case. The ED received reports that government witnesses of the ED, who were in custody, were facing threats, and there was a plot to frame ED officers. There were also efforts to destroy critical evidence in the money laundering case.

The jail administration appeared to be cooperating with these activities, prompting the ED to place the jail under surveillance. During this surveillance, the ED discovered suspicious activities within the jail. Subsequently, the ED obtained court permission to carry out the raid, and its officials arrived at the jail.

During the ED raid, evidence was found suggesting that the jail’s CCTV footage was being tampered with, possibly with the assistance of technically proficient individuals within the jail administration. The ED received information that the jail administration was attempting to conceal the amenities provided to Prem Prakash and other accused individuals in the money laundering case from coming to the ED’s attention. The destruction of CCTV footage was seen as a means to achieve this objective.

The ED has also received intelligence indicating that Prem Prakash has been operating a syndicate within Birsa Munda Central Jail Hotwar. He is allegedly coordinating activities aimed at undermining the ED, including financial transactions and the influence of ED witnesses. Moreover, he is allegedly encouraging witnesses to file cases against ED officials under the ST/SC Act in an attempt to weaken the ED’s case.