ED conducts raids in Jharkhand and Bihar in a money laundering case. Rajveer Construction and several other companies are under investigation in the Bokaro forest land scam.
Jharkhand News: On Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched simultaneous raids at over 15 locations in Jharkhand and Bihar in connection with a money laundering case linked to a forest land scam in Bokaro, Jharkhand. These raids targeted locations associated with major construction companies in Jharkhand and their operators.
The ED's action is related to the well-known Bokaro forest land scam, in which an attempt was made to usurp government land using forged documents. Companies like Rajveer Construction, Shriram Construction, and their directors, Viml Agrawal, Puneet Agrawal, and Veer Agrawal, are reportedly implicated in this case.
Raids at multiple locations in Ranchi and Bokaro
ED teams have reached Lalpur, Hatia, and Bariatu in Ranchi, and the DC and CO offices in Bokaro. A search operation is also underway at the Bokaro Forest Division office. This action is being taken based on an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) filed by the ED, pertaining to the scam that occurred in 2022.
How the scam unfolded: 10 decimals of land converted into 74 acres
An application submitted in January 2025 by the Bokaro Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnish Kumar, stated that in 2022, some administrative officials, using forged documents, converted a mere 10 decimals of land belonging to Mahendra Mishra into 74.38 acres and granted its allotment. The CID (Criminal Investigation Department) is also investigating this matter.
ED Raid in Banka as well
On Tuesday morning, the ED team conducted a raid at the residence and medical shop of Veer Agrawal, the owner of Shriram Construction, in the Baunsi area of Banka district, Bihar. The team, arriving in two vehicles, thoroughly investigated documents and questioned Veer Agrawal and his sons, Bablu and Shyam Agrawal. Reportedly, Shriram Construction operates construction businesses in Jharkhand and other states and is considered close to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
