Jharkhand illegal mining: ED arrests Ranchi-based businessman Prem Prakash day after finding AK-47s in raids

RANCHI: The ED on Thursday arrested Ranchi-based businessman Prem Prakash after two AK-47 rifles along with 60 live cartridges were recovered from his residence during raids on Wednesday, in connection with alleged illegal mining in Jharkhand.
He will be produced in court. ED will ask for the remand of Prem Prakash as he is required to be questioned to establish his role in illegal mining.

An ED official said that Prem Prakash has been arrested on charges of illegal mining, money laundering and his role in suspected criminal nexus between the Jharkhand administration, businessmen and politicians case.

This is the third arrest in the case. Earlier, the ED had arrested Pankaj Mishra, a political aide of Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, and Mishra's associate and muscleman Bachhu Yadav.

Prakash is known for having close business relations with people in the power corridors, in different governments. ED is learnt to have recovered documents as well.

However, Ranchi police were quick to claim that the weapons seized by ED actually belonged to two of their personnel.
The ED on Wednesday conducted raids at 17 places in Jharkhand, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Delhi-NCR in connection with illegal mining, money laundering and suspected criminal nexus between the Jharkhand administration, businessmen and politicians.
The raids were conducted at 11 places in Ranchi, including Prakash’s flat in Vasundhara Apartment, his residence ‘Shailodaya’ near the Harmu Chowk, his office in Harmu.