Ranchi, July 26 (UNI) The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Abhishek Prasad 'Pintu' who is the press adviser to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to appear before the agency on August 1.
ED sources on Tuesday said that in connection with the minning scam he will be questioned. During the questioning of Pankaj Mishra who is associated with the ruling JMM the name of Abhishek Prasad emerged before the authorities.
Moreover, the ED has also with it the details of talks that have taken place between the press adviser and Pankaj Mishra and on this basis only he has been summoned.
Earlier in the day the Enforcement Directorate produced Pankaj Mishra before the special PMLA court of Prabhat Kumar Sharma at Ranchi civil court after his six days police remand period was over.
The ED had requested the court to extend his remand for another eight days. The ED told the court that his remand was required as Pankaj Mishra was still withholding crucial information about the money trail and kickbacks related to illegal mining.
However, the agency got six days remand of Pankaj Mishra from the court to continue the investigation.
Earlier on July 19, the ED arrested him on charges of money laundering after eight-hour hour-long questioning.
Pankaj Mishra is associated with a political party currently in power in the state. The ED is investigating his role as a prime member of the illegal mining syndicate in Santhal Pargana. On the next day, he was produced before the PMLA court where the ED secured his six days remand.
The ED had seized cash worth Rs 11.88 Crore from the accounts of Pankaj Mishra and his associates after it conducted raids across multiple locations in the state and Santhal Pargana in particular.
UNI AK ARN