The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Subhash Yadav, a man allegedly associated with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), in Patna as part of a money laundering probe related to alleged illegal sand mining in Bihar. On Sunday, the ED also carried out search operations at six locations linked to Yadav and his close associates. “Based on the material gathered and having regard to his role in the offence of money laundering, Subhash Yadav was arrested on March 9 and produced before the Special PMLA Court on Monday, wherein he has been sent to judicial custody till March 22. During searches, unexplained cash of around Rs 2.37 crore, and digital devices including pen drives, mobile phones and laptops containing incriminating data have been found and seized from the premises of an employee and close associates of Subhash,” an ED spokesperson said on Monday. The ED initiated its investigation based on 20 FIRs registered by the Bihar Police under various sections of the IPC and Bihar Mineral (Concession, Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rule, 2019, against Broadson Commodities Private Limited and others. “It was alleged that M/s Broadson Commodities Private Limited (BCPL) has been involved in illegal sand mining and selling of sand without using the departmental pre-paid transportation e-challan, issued by the mining authority, Bihar, and has caused huge revenue loss to the extent of Rs 161.15 crore to the government exchequer,” the spokesperson said. “Investigation has revealed that a syndicate mainly controlled the illegal mining of sand and its sale. Subhash is the key member of the syndicate, as well as ex-director in M/s Broad Son Commodities Private Limited, which was involved in illegal sand mining and sale. The investigation has also revealed that Subhash has generated huge proceeds of crime and has concealed the same by acquiring various immovable properties in the name of his companies,” the spokesperson said. Earlier, the ED had carried out search operations on three occasions and arrested five people, including the directors of BSPL and syndicate member Radha Charan Sah, (MLC, Bihar) and his son Kanhaiya Kumar.
