The agency had started its search operations at 20 locations in connection with the case, in which a former aide of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Pankaj Mishra, is also an FIR-named accused, they said.
The CBI has seized cash amounting to more than ₹ 13 lakh and jewellery worth about ₹ 52 lakh from former district mining officer, Sahibganj, Bibhuti Kumar during searches in poll-bound Jharkhand in connection with an illegal stone-mining case, officials said on Wednesday.
The agency had started its search operations at 20 locations in connection with the case, in which a former aide of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Pankaj Mishra, is also an FIR-named accused, they said.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) teams have seized ₹ 75 lakh so far during the operation, including the seizure from the premises of Bibhuti Kumar, the officials said.
In addition to the cash and jewellery, the CBI has also seized investments worth ₹ 11 lakh, documents pertaining to seven properties worth crores of rupees and fixed-deposit receipts worth around ₹ 10 lakh from Bibhuti Kumar’s premises, they said.
Polling for the Jharkhand Assembly is scheduled to take place on November 13 and November 20. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and other INDIA bloc constituents will face off against the BJP and its NDA allies.
The agency registered the case on November 20, 2023 on the directions of the Jharkhand High Court.
In the FIR, the Ranchi unit of the CBI booked Mishra, Pavitra Kumar Yadav, Rajesh Yadav, Sanjay Kumar Yadav, Bacchu Yadav, Sanjay Yadav and Suvesh Mandal.
They were allegedly involved in the “pilferage and illegal extraction” of stones at Nimbu Pahar in Sahibganj.
“Investigations revealed that large-scale illegal-mining activities in Sahibganj district allegedly caused substantial losses to the government, primarily through unpaid royalties and the violation of mining laws,” a CBI spokesperson said.
He said searches are being carried out at the premises of the suspects whose roles came up during further investigation.