Rs 50 lakh cash, 1 kg gold seized in CBI raids in Jhakhand illegal mining case

The CBI investigation focused on the extraction of valuable stones from Jharkhand's well-known Nimbu Pahad region, which have reportedly been illegally mined and sold overseas.

In Short

• CBI raided 16 locations in Jharkhand, Kolkata and Patna for illegal stone mining
• Seized Rs 50 lakh cash, 1 kg gold, 1 kg silver, several property-related documents
• CBI is probing allegations of illegal stone mining in Jharkhand's Nimbu Pahad

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids on Tuesday at 16 locations across three states in connection with an alleged illegal stone mining scam in Jharkhand. The raids led to the seizure of approximately Rs 50 lakh in unaccounted cash, one kilogram of gold, one kilogram of silver, and numerous property-related documents worth crores.

According to officials, the probe agency is currently conducting raids in different locations, including 14 sites in Jharkhand, one in Patna, and another in Kolkata as part of its ongoing probe into the case in which political aide of Chief Minister Hemant Soren Pankaj Mishra is under scanner.

The raids were conducted at the premises of suspects and their associates, the officials said.

The recent seizures were part of a CBI investigation in connection with the alleged illegal extraction of valuable stones from Jharkhand's well-known "Nimbu Pahad" area. These stones are alleged to have been mined without authorisation and sold in international markets.

CBI officials said that the raids were conducted after the agency had registered the case on November 23, 2023 on the directions of the Jharkhand High Court.

The CBI crackdown comes just days before Jharkhand heads to the polls, with elections to the 81-member Assembly scheduled in two phases on November 13 and 20. Counting of votes will take place on November 23.