ED attaches ₹3.87 crore properties of Jharkhand firm in Maoist extortion case
Synopsis
The ED has attached 11 properties worth ₹3.87 crore belonging to a Jharkhand construction firm whose partner allegedly paid ₹5 lakh in Maoist 'levy' — with the remaining extortion proceeds laundered through undervalued real estate deals. Total crime proceeds in the case stand at ₹7.16 crore, linking a 2019 Maoist attack that killed four police personnel to a formal business network.
Key Takeaways
The ED's Ranchi Zonal Office provisionally attached 11 properties worth ₹3.87 crore belonging to Santosh Construction and associates on 13 July under the PMLA, 2002 .
Total Proceeds of Crime in the case are quantified at approximately ₹7.16 crore ; the NIA had earlier recovered ₹2.69 crore in cash.
A partner of Santosh Construction allegedly paid ₹5 lakh as extortion 'levy' to Ravindra Ganjhu , identified as the alleged CPI (Maoist) Regional Commander, Latehar .
One of the linked FIRs concerns a Maoist attack on 22 November 2019 at NH-75, Latehar , in which four Jharkhand Police personnel were killed .
The remaining ₹4.46 crore was allegedly layered as capital into the firm in FY 2017-18 and FY 2018-19 , then integrated through purchase of properties in Mouza Chandwa and Mouza Kamta .
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached 11 immovable properties worth ₹3.87 crore belonging to Santosh Construction and its associates in Latehar, Jharkhand, in connection with alleged Maoist extortion and money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The action, carried out by the ED's Ranchi Zonal Office, was announced on Monday, 13 July, and marks a significant step in tracing the financial trail of banned Naxal outfit CPI (Maoist).
Who Is Named in the Case
The ED has named six individuals in its provisional attachment order: Santosh Kumar Singh, Mrityunjay Kumar @ Sonu Singh, Manish Kumar, Baijnath Ganjhu, Rajesh Kumar Ganjhu, and Ravindra Ganjhu. Ravindra Ganjhu is identified as the alleged Regional Commander, Latehar, of CPI (Maoist), a banned Naxal organisation. Mrityunjay Kumar @ Sonu Singh, a partner at Santosh Construction, is accused of paying ₹5 lakh in extortion money — described as 'levy' — directly to Ganjhu.
The Two FIRs Behind the Investigation
The ED's probe was triggered by two First Information Reports (FIRs) originally registered at Police Station Chandwa, District Latehar, and later taken over and re-investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Arms Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.
The first FIR concerns a Maoist attack on 22 November 2019 at NH-75, Lukuiya More, Latehar, in which four Jharkhand Police personnel were killed and arms and ammunition were looted. The second relates to the cash seizure of ₹5 lakh as extortion payment made by the construction firm's partner to the alleged Maoist commander.
How Extortion Money Was Laundered
According to the ED, total Proceeds of Crime (POC) in this case have been quantified at approximately ₹7.16 crore. Of this, ₹2.69 crore was recovered in cash by the NIA during search operations. The remaining ₹4.46 crore was allegedly 'placed and layered' as capital infusions into Santosh Construction during FY 2017-18 and FY 2018-19.
Investigators allege the layered funds were then integrated into the formal economy through the purchase of 11 immovable properties in Mouza Chandwa and Mouza Kamta, District Latehar, registered in the names of the firm and its key associates. Authorities say a combination of undervalued sale deeds and off-the-books cash payments was used to circumvent banking scrutiny — a classic layering-and-integration pattern in money laundering investigations.
Significance of the Attachment
This case illustrates a broader enforcement pattern in which Maoist-linked extortion — long a cash-only phenomenon in Jharkhand's conflict zones — is being traced into the formal real estate and business ecosystem. The NIA-to-ED referral pipeline has become an increasingly common tool in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) districts, where criminal proceeds often fund further operational activity. The ₹3.87 crore attachment is a provisional measure; the matter will now be placed before an Adjudicating Authority under PMLA for confirmation.
With LWE-related violence in Jharkhand showing a declining trend in recent years according to government data, financial disruption of Maoist support networks has emerged as a complementary counter-insurgency strategy alongside security operations.
Point of View
Which is a more durable counter-insurgency tool than arrests alone. The bigger question is whether such attachments translate into long-term asset forfeiture or get tied up in PMLA adjudication for years — a systemic bottleneck that has blunted enforcement impact in past high-profile cases.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the ED attach properties of Santosh Construction in Jharkhand?
The ED attached 11 properties worth ₹3.87 crore because the firm and its associates are accused of laundering money derived from Maoist extortion in Latehar, Jharkhand. The attachment was made under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, following a probe triggered by two NIA-investigated FIRs.
What is the total amount of Proceeds of Crime in this case?
The total Proceeds of Crime have been quantified at approximately ₹7.16 crore. Of this, ₹2.69 crore was recovered in cash by the NIA, while the remaining ₹4.46 crore was allegedly laundered through capital infusions into Santosh Construction and subsequent real estate purchases.
What was the 2019 Maoist attack linked to this case?
One of the FIRs relates to a Maoist attack on 22 November 2019 at NH-75, Lukuiya More, Latehar, in which four Jharkhand Police personnel were killed and arms and ammunition were looted. This FIR was initially registered at Police Station Chandwa and later taken over by the NIA.
Who are the key accused named by the ED?
The ED has named six individuals: Santosh Kumar Singh, Mrityunjay Kumar @ Sonu Singh, Manish Kumar, Baijnath Ganjhu, Rajesh Kumar Ganjhu, and Ravindra Ganjhu. Ravindra Ganjhu is identified as the alleged Regional Commander of CPI (Maoist) in Latehar.
What happens after a provisional attachment under PMLA?
A provisional attachment under PMLA is a temporary measure. The ED must place the matter before an Adjudicating Authority under the Act, which then decides whether the attachment should be confirmed. The accused also have the right to contest the attachment before the authority.
