Enforcement Directorate’s Special Court in Ranchi today declined to provide bail to Pankaj Mishra, accused in illegal mining in Sahibgunj and a money laundering case.

Mishra, representative of MLA Hemant Soren, Chief Minister, had sought bail on grounds of his “ illness”.But the ED’s advocate opposed his bail plea arguing that he has been in touch with senior officers and had threatened another senior officer.

“ If he is released on bail, he can influence the eyewitnesses of his crime”, argued ED’s advocate and senior public prosecutor Atish Kumar.

The ED Special Court had kept its judgment reserved on November 22. Today, the court rejected his bail petition. Now, he is set to move the Jharkhand High Court to seek bail even though the ED had submitted its charge sheet against him.

On July 8, the ED conducted raids on several places connected with Pankaj Mishra. He was summoned by the ED at its Delhi office. Later, he and others were asked to appear before the central agency at its Ranchi office. On grounds of poor health, Mishra preferred not to appear and sought more time. On July 29, he appeared before the ED. After grilling him for hours, he was arrested and remanded to judicial custody.