PATNA: Tightening the noose around a Bihar’s leading contractor Rishu Ranjan Sinha alias Rishu Shree in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case, Enforcement Directorate(ED), on Friday conducted fresh search operations at his nine locations across the country.
Search operations were conducted across Patna, Muzaffarpur, Surat and Panipat under the provisions of PMLA. During the search operations, several incriminating evidence and documents were seized. Sources said that the search operation started on Thursday evening and concluded on Friday.
ED launched the investigation on the basis of FIR registered by Special Vigilance Unit (SVU), Bihar against Rishu Shree and others. Rishu Shree’s firms work as contractors/sub-contractors in various state government’s departments, such as water resources, health, public health engineering, urban development, Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCO), education, building and construction, and rural works department.
Rishu Shree allegedly got government tenders rewarded in his favour with the complicity of various government officials. The raids were connected at thepremises of his associates and travel agents connected to Rishu Shree.
In March this year, ED seized Rs 11.64 crore in cash during searches at multiple locations linked to senior officials of the Bihar government on Thursday, officials said on Friday.
The raids were conducted following fresh evidence in a money laundering case against 1997-batch IAS officer Sanjeev Hans, who is currently lodged in Beur Central Jail in Patna.
Officials said searches were carried out at seven locations in Patna, including the residence of Bihar Building Construction Department chief engineer Tarini Das. Raids were also conducted at the premises of Mumukshu Chaudhary, joint secretary in the finance department, and Umesh Kumar Singh, executive engineer in the urban development and housing department, among others.
A case was registered against suspended IAS officer Sanjeev Hans and Rishu Shree, by the Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) on April 30. A copy of the FIR was submitted to the court on Friday. ED's probe revealed that Rishu Shree acted as a middleman in transactions between government officials and contractors, while also facilitating financial dealings between companies on behalf of Sanjeev Hans.
Sanjeev Hans is currently lodged in the Beur central jail.
Rishu Shree, a government contractor has floated numerous firms, serving as a mediator in deals between officials and contractors in various projects. Later, he took sub-contracting roles in th same projects.