ED files 5th supplementary prosecution complaint in illegal mining case in Jharkhand’s Sahibganj

Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Ranchi Zonal Office, has filed its 5th supplementary prosecution complaint on June 30, 2025 before the Special Court (PMLA) in Ranchi.

ED, in its official press statement on Wednesday (July 2, 2025), stated that this complaint is part of an ongoing major money laundering investigation into the illegal mining and extortion syndicate operating in Sahibganj, Jharkhand.

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With this filing, the ED has now arraigned a total of 19 individuals and entities through six Prosecution Complaints (one original and five supplementary) filed in this matter.

“The current complaint brings to light the roles of eight additional individuals and two companies, who have been found to be integral to the criminal network orchestrated by Pankaj Mishra, the then political representative of the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, ”ED said in the statement.

The newly arraigned accused include Rajesh Yadav alias Dahu Yadav, identified as a key henchman who managed the illegal transportation of stone across the Ganga river and financed the fraudulent ferry tender to enable large-scale smuggling of minerals.

Whereas Heera Lal Bhagat, operating from the Mirza Chowki area, used his firm M/s Jai Maa Bhavani Stone Works to run illegal mining operations and was found in possession of over ₹3.13 Crore unaccounted cash, directly representing Proceeds of Crime.

“The investigation also uncovered that Nimay Chandra Shil entered into a criminal conspiracy with the syndicate’s kingpin, Pankaj Mishra, by partnering with his wife to fraudulently secure a mining lease in return for a 50% profit share. Meanwhile, M/s Marine Infralink Logistics Pvt. Ltd. and its Director Yash Jalan were found to have knowingly provided the vessel M.V. Infralink-III to facilitate the syndicate’s illegal stone transport operations, receiving payments totalling ₹2.75 Crore derived from the syndicate’s illegal mining proceeds,” ED said.

ED’s investigation was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by the Jharkhand Police against Pankaj Mishra and his associates for various IPC and Arms Act offences.

During the investigation under the PMLA, it was revealed that by leveraging political influence, Mishra masterminded an extensive syndicate engaged in illegal mining, extortion, and monopolisation of mineral transport in Sahibganj, generating proceeds of crime estimated at over ₹1000 Crore.

With the filing of this supplementary complaint, the ED has further strengthened its case by demonstrating how different operatives—whether through financing the ferry services, managing illegal mining sites, or laundering the proceeds through corporate fronts—collectively sustained the syndicate’s criminal enterprise.

The ED has so far seized and frozen assets including over ₹5.34 Crore in cash, an inland vessel, five industrial stone crushers, multiple vehicles, and bank balances exceeding ₹13.32 Crore.

Rajesh Yadav alias Dahu Yadav remains absconding and further investigation is in progress.