Jharkhand HC denies discharge petition: Strong evidence against “Power Broker” Prem Prakash by ED

Ranchi: In a significant legal development, the Jharkhand High Court has dismissed the discharge petition filed by money laundering accused Prem Prakash, widely known as the “Power Broker.” The court’s ruling states that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) possesses substantial evidence indicating Prem Prakash’s involvement in illegal mining in Sahibganj and subsequent money laundering activities.

The court, in its order, emphasized that prima facie evidence presented by the ED establishes a connection between Prem Prakash and the proceeds of crime. The accused has failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the influx of large sums of money into his account. The rejection of the discharge petition paves the way for the continuation of the trial against Prem Prakash, as charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) have been framed by the Special Court of Ranchi.
Prem Prakash, also implicated in a money laundering case linked to a land scam, had contested the framing of charges, leading to the recent hearing before Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi at the High Court.

It is noteworthy that the ED had arrested Prem Prakash last year, and he has since remained in judicial custody. Shockingly, ED’s investigations have uncovered that Prem Prakash’s influence extends even within the confines of the jail. Allegedly, with the complicity of prison officials, he continues to enjoy various facilities while in custody. The unfolding legal proceedings shed light on the multi-faceted nature of the accusations against the prominent figure known as the “Power Broker.”