India News | Coal Mine Extortion Case: NIA Charge-sheets Key Aide of Jharkhand-based Jailed Gangster

New Delhi, Aug 5 (PTI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday charge-sheeted a key associate of jailed gangster Aman Sahu in a case of firing, extortion and arson at a coal mine in Jharkhand's Latehar.

Accused Shankar Yadav, a resident of Bhagalpur district in Bihar, has been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Arms Act in a charge sheet filed before a special NIA court in Ranchi.

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The charge sheet has been filed in the case, which was originally registered by police at Balumath in Latehar in December 2020, and later taken over by the NIA in March 2021.

Shankar Yadav, the 25th accused to be charge sheeted in the case, was a key aide of Aman Sahu, currently in jail in various cases of Jharkhand, a statement issued by the NIA said.

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He was involved in creating a false front using shell firms for channelling the extortion money procured by Sahu, it said.

During course of investigation, search was conducted at premises of Yadav in February 2024, in which Rs 1.3 crore cash was seized.

The instant case relates to the criminal conspiracy hatched by Sahu, along with gangster Sujit Sinha and others, for extortion of money and disruption of mining operations at the Tetariyakhad coal mine.

The gang had launched an attack on the colliery, the probe agency said.

NIA investigations have revealed the involvement of the Aman Sahu gang in several sensational crimes in Jharkhand, including firing on police officers and jail staff.

Sahu's main targets have been businessmen and contractors.

The gang has developed connections with splinter Naxal organisations and other organised criminal gangs outside the state to carry out its criminal activities, the probe agency said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)