India's Enforcement Directorate seizes ₹3.87 cr in Jharkhand money‑laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Ranchi has temporarily confiscated immovable assets valued at about ₹3.87 crore from Santosh Construction and six individuals – Santosh Kumar Singh, Mritunjay Kumar (alias Sonu Singh), Manish Kumar, Baijnath Ganju, Rajesh Kumar Ganju and Ravindra Ganju – under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

The action follows two FIRs filed in LATEHAR district of Jharkhand: one relating to a November 2019 Maoist attack that killed four police personnel and another concerning a forced collection of ₹5 lakh. Authorities estimate total illicit proceeds at roughly ₹7.16 crore, of which ₹2.69 crore was recovered in cash by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The seized properties, eleven in total, were allegedly bought using low‑price sale deeds and unaccounted cash to integrate illegal earnings into the formal economy.

The ED continues its investigation, coordinating with the NIA and invoking provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.