ED Submits Sealed Report to Jharkhand High Court in Conspiracy Case Involving Money Laundering Accused

Ranchi, Nov 23: On Thursday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) submitted a sealed report to the Jharkhand High Court in a case involving the conspiracy to implicate officers and threaten witnesses by individuals accused of money laundering, currently incarcerated in Birsa Munda jail in Ranchi. After reviewing the report, the bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjay Kumar Mishra inquired whether the ED could share the findings with the state government. The court has directed the ED to file a counter-affidavit on this matter during the next hearing, scheduled for December 15.
The genesis of the sealed report request dates back to a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) hearing on November 7, where the High Court had sought a comprehensive report from the ED. The ED, in its application to the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court, had expressed concerns about some incarcerated individuals conspiring to frame ED officers in false cases, posing a threat to them.
The ED further asserted that the accused individuals involved in money laundering have established connections with Naxalites and criminals to harm ED officers. The complete report was submitted to the Union Home Ministry. Following the court application, the ED received authorization to conduct a raid on the jail premises on November 3. During the operation, the agency seized CCTV footage from the jail and the mobile phone of Danish, the head clerk of the jail. Subsequent investigations unveiled that Danish had been using his mobile to intimidate witnesses involved in the money laundering case. His phone contained records of numerous conversations with witnesses, providing further insight into the alleged conspiracy.