Ranchi: A major breakthrough has emerged in the high-profile Bokaro forest land scam, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) uncovering a massive money laundering operation estimated to exceed ₹500 crore. According to an affidavit submitted before the Jharkhand High Court on April 6, the matter goes far beyond simple land manipulation and points to a well-organised financial crime involving transactions and systemic fraud.
Forged Papers and Fake History Allegedly Fueled a Giant Land Grab
The investigation has identified Shailesh Kumar Singh as the key accused behind the racket, who allegedly orchestrated the illegal sale of government forest land using forged documents and a network of shell companies. The ED stated that around 103 acres of forest land was sold through a firm named “Umayush Multicom Private Limited,” at a rate of ₹5.50 lakh per decimal, generating illegal proceeds estimated at over ₹500 crore.
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Chemical Erasures, Illegal Mutations and Cash Deals Shock Investigators
According to investigators, the transactions were deliberately structured to appear legitimate on paper. Registry documents reflected only government-approved rates, while actual payments were made in cash—often up to 9 times the recorded value. In one instance, a buyer reportedly paid ₹22.50 lakh for a property officially valued at just ₹2.50 lakh. This pattern highlights the extensive use of unaccounted cash and black money throughout the operation.
One of the most startling revelations in the affidavit concerns the manipulation of land records. In mutation case number 1317(7)/2012-13, originally registered under the name of Dimple Devi, the records were allegedly altered by erasing her name using chemicals and replacing it with that of the Hussain brothers. The mutation was approved within just 14 days, without any field verification or mandatory clearance from the forest department. Investigators also found evidence suggesting that bribe money was transferred into the account of the concerned official, who has since been dismissed from service.
Shell Firms and Blank Cheques Point to a Deep Financial Conspiracy
The ED further uncovered a complex financial network involving shell companies used to route illicit funds. Shailesh Kumar Singh reportedly floated companies in the names of his family members and employees to legitimize the land deals. Funds were funneled through construction firms, and during raids, officials recovered 19 signed blank cheques—indicating centralized financial control within the syndicate.
ED Probe Puts Powerful Buyers and Officials Under Fresh Scanner
Another alarming aspect of the case is the alleged involvement of influential individuals. The ED revealed that portions of the disputed forest land were sold to several serving senior government officials, raising serious concerns about the depth and reach of the scam.
At the root of the matter lies a purported auction certificate from 1933, which investigators have declared fake. The document claims that a person named Sameeruddin Ansari had acquired the land through auction at that time. However, records suggest that he was only nine years old in 1933, making the transaction legally impossible. Additionally, a 1962 revenue record used as supporting evidence was found to be written with a ballpoint pen—an anachronism, as such pens were not in official use in government offices during that period. Authorities from the concerned registrar’s office have also confirmed that no such auction record exists in their archives.
