Responding to Pankaj Mishra’s complaint that  Enforcement Directorate’s Assistant Director Deowrat Jha had concealed ‘facts’, ED’s Special court has served notice directing Jha to submit his reply by December 15.

Mishra had claimed in his petition that the case, on the basis of which the ED had filed a charge sheet in money laundering case against him is connected with the FIR lodged by Vijay Hansda at Barharwa police station.

Mishra, who has been charge-sheeted by ED and jailed on illegal mining and money laundering case, had alleged that Jha had booked him on false evidence. ‘Jha had kept hidden factual details’ and thereby he is entitled under Section 340 of the IPC to get justice from the court.

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Notably, one Vijay Hansda had lodged FIR at Barharwa police station in Sahebgunj on June 30, 2022, alleging that large-scale illegal mining was being carried out by Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his MLA representative Pankaj Mishra and others In Nimbu Pahad area in Sahebgunj.

On the basis of Hansda’s FIR, ED started investigations. Later, on the basis of collected evidence showing illegal mining of stones and minerals worth Rs 1000 crore, the agency filed a charge sheet against Pankaj Mishra and others.

Alongside, the police in Sahebgunj claimed that Vijay Hansda had withdrawn his complaint stating that there was no evidence to justify his complaint. The police had enclosed a copy of letter signed by Hansda saying so, the police in Sahebgunj had claimed in a press conference.

However, Vijay Hansda had described the Sahebgunj police’s narrative as a deliberate move to defend the accused Pankaj Mishra. As such, standing by his assertion, on December 4, Vijay Hansda again lodged a fresh FIR at SC- ST police station countering the Sahebgunj police - SP and DIG-narrative and reiterated that his complaint against the accused Pankaj Mishra and others was based on “ facts” mentioned in his June 30 FIR.

Now, all eyes are on ED Assistant Director Deowrat Jha‘s submission before the ED Special Court.

Alongside, on medical grounds, accused Pankaj Mishra, instead of being taken to central jail, was shifted from RIMS hospital, Baritatu, to Central Institute of Psychiatry, Kanke, Ranchi.

Records show that Mishra, MLA representative of CM Hemant Soren was arrested by the ED on July 19, 2022, during the investigation in the illegal mining case in the Sahebgunj area of Jharkhand.

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