Around half-a-dozen raids, an arrest, summons and other legal actions involving high-profile politicians and celebrities — this has been a blockbuster week for the Enforcement Directorate.
Since September 15, when ED’s director Sanjay Mishra retired, there was no major raid or legal action witnessed for at least two weeks. However, the brief lull appears to be over.
The ED investigators are up and running once again. A series of actions across states like West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand happened over the past week. The actions formally substantiate and validate Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s words after the Supreme Court cancelled Mishra’s extended tenure and restricted it to September 15.
Shah’s Warning
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) amid celebrations by some opposition leaders and their posts on social media following the SC order, Shah had said: “Those rejoicing over the Hon’ble SC decision on the ED case are delusional for various reasons.”
He added: “Powers of the ED to strike at those who are corrupt and on the wrong side of the law remain the same. ED is an institution which rises beyond any one individual and is focused on achieving its core objective – i.e. to investigate offences of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws. Thus, who the ED director is – that is not important because whoever assumes this role will take note of the rampant corruption of a cozy club of entitled dynasts who have an anti-development mindset (sic).”
In the past four days, the directorate has raided senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh and arrested him in connection with the liquor scam, raided a cabinet minister in West Bengal and summoned Trinamool MP and party’s general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in connection with the recruitment scam case.
On the other hand, it summoned at least half-a-dozen celebrities, including Ranbir Kapoor, in connection with the Mahadev betting app case, while it searched the premises of a minister and his son in Rajasthan in connection with the mid-day meal scam.
More Action On the Way
Talking to News18, a senior officer in the ED said there is strong evidence about the nexus between the promoter of the Mahadev betting app and senior government officials. Political functionaries, a couple of senior ministers and MLAs were also in touch with the promoters. The ED had already searched Vinod Verma’s residence last month. Verma is the political advisor to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The chief minister also sensed the crisis and during a public programme, he said the officers of ED and IT are hovering around all the time.
In Delhi, two crucial cases are now being investigated. The liquor scam is likely to unfold in future, and more people, including senior politicians and bureaucrats, will come under the ED lens in connection with the scam, News 18 has learnt.
On the other hand, the NewsClick case, which is now being probed by Delhi’s Special Cell, was first taken up by the ED. The initial investigation in this case was done by the directorate that tracked the money trail. Delhi Police slapped the most stringent sections like UAPA against the accused journalists.
In Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren is entangled in at least two scams — mining and land deals. Soren has skipped five summons of the ED and his petition before the high court will be heard on Friday. Following the HC’s decision, the ED will decide on the next legal action against Soren, said another source in the ED.
In Bengal, the recruitment scam has turned out to be a priority case for the ED. Two days ago, ED officers raided the residence of Bengal’s food minister Rathin Ghosh, while Abhishek Banerjee has been summoned again on October 9. Banerjee is being probed in connection with three scams — cattle, coal and recruitment.
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