Ranchi / Patna: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a coordinated crackdown early Tuesday, conducting raids at around 15 locations across Jharkhand and Bihar in connection with a major scam involving the illegal acquisition and sale of protected forest land under Tetulia, in Mouza in Bokaro district of Jharkhand.
The operation, part of a money laundering probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), targets a network allegedly involved in the fraudulent sale of 103 acres of forest land in Tetulia, Mouza of Bokaro district, sources said.
The coordinated raids spanned multiple sites, including Ranchi’s Lalpur, Bariatu, Kanke, and Hatia areas, as well as locations in Bokaro, Patna, and Muzaffarpur.
ED teams, supported by central paramilitary forces, began the operation around 5 AM, targeting the premises of individuals associated with a well-known construction company. Key sites raided include offices near Hariom Tower in Lalpur, a flat in Panchvati Residency (Kanke), and the Hatia residence of a prominent local builder.
Investigators suspect the construction firm of using forged documents to illegally acquire forest land for residential and commercial projects. Sources indicate that former government officials—including a Circle Officer and a Divisional Forest Officer—along with M/s M Construction Co. and individuals identified as I. Ansari, A Hussan and Murmu, allegedly facilitated the land sale using fabricated documents, are under the scanner, sources said.
According to officials, proceeds from the illegal land deals were funneled into real estate ventures and possibly routed through multiple bank accounts and foreign channels. The ED is currently examining financial records, property documents, and digital evidence seized during the raids.
While the agency has yet to officially name the construction firm involved, sources reveal that the company has played a significant role in large-scale development projects in Ranchi and Bokaro. Several employees, real estate agents, and company executives are being interrogated as the investigation intensifies.
The operation has reportedly exposed a wider network involving bureaucrats, land mafias, and developers engaged in manipulating land registries and records to orchestrate the multi-crore scam. Authorities expect to make substantial seizures of cash and incriminating documents in the coming days as the probe continues.
National and international news presention is very nice and attractive. ‘Bokaro Forest Land Scam’ reporting is really very nice and should be highlighted on time to time.