Illegal mining case: ED calls SP leader

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is investigation the alleged illegal sand mining case in UP, is preparing to examine Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and MLC Ramesh Kumar Mishra infront of other accused in the case during interrogation.

The Central probe agency recently issued summons to four people, including IAS officer B. Chandrakala and a SP leader, in connection with its investigation into the alleged illegal sand mining case in UP. The ED filed a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking cognisance of a CBI FIR filed to probe illegal mining instances in the Hamirpur area between 2012 and 2016 in UP. The CBI is also probing the role of former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav in the case as he had held the mining portfolio during this period.

Sources said Ms Chandrakala and SP MLC Ramesh Kumar Mishra had been summoned by the ED to appear before the investigating officer of the case in Lucknow on January 24 and 28 respectively. Two more officials were similarly summoned under the PMLA over the next week, they added.

The ED is probing the money trail and whether the alleged illegal funds received as kickbacks in these cases were laundered by the accused. It will also look for assets, both immovable and movable, of the accused that can be attached under the anti-money laundering law.

The CBI had carried out searches at 14 locations earlier this month in connection with its FIR against 11 people, including Chandrakala, Mishra and Sanjay Dixit (who had unsuccessfully contested the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls on a BSP ticket), to probe the alleged illegal mining of minor minerals in Hamirpur district during 2012-16.