GOVERNMENT TRIED TO SAVE THE DIRECTOR OF MAHADEV ENCLAVE BASED ON A LETTER FROM DM

GOVERNMENT TRIED TO SAVE THE DIRECTOR OF MAHADEV ENCLAVE BASED ON A LETTER FROM DM

14-DEC-ENG 2

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA----------------------The statements of both Deputy Chief Ministers of the state, Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, about destroying the sand mafia are constantly making headlines these days, but the reality is quite the opposite; instead of taking action, the entire system is standing with the sand mafia. In the last issue, you read: Mining officials and the police committed a grave sin to protect the sand mafia; weak action taken even after the ED and EOU reports. What I am about to reveal today will make it clear that the script to protect Manoj Kumar Pachasia, the main accused in the Rs. 131 crore illegal mining case and Director of Mahadev Enclave Private Limited, begins with a letter directed by the District Magistrate of Banka, Navdeep Shukla.  If you examine letter number 1490/Go, dated 19/08/2025, from the confidential branch of the Collectorate, Banka, everything will become clear.

The District Magistrate's directed letter is as follows: To, The Mineral Development Officer, Banka. Subject: Regarding taking legal action against M/s Mahadev Enclave Pvt. Ltd., Banka.

Reference: Letter No. 5470/EOW (EOU) dated 13/08/2025 of the Superintendent of Police, Economic Offences Unit, Bihar, Patna.

Sir, Through the above-mentioned letter, the Superintendent of Police, Economic Offences Unit, Bihar, Patna, has sent the necessary documents to initiate criminal prosecution against M/s Mahadev Enclave Pvt. Ltd. under Section 47 of the Bihar Mineral (Grant, Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2019.

While attaching copies of the received documents, you are directed to ensure that legal action is taken against M/s Mahadev Enclave Pvt. Ltd. under Section 47 of the aforementioned rules and that information about the action taken is provided to the undersigned. Enclosure: As above. The letter bears the signature of the District Magistrate, Banka.

Read carefully, the District Magistrate of Banka's letter does not mention the Rs. 131 crore illegal sand mining case anywhere. The name of Manoj Kumar Pachasia, Director of Mahadev Enclave Private Limited, is also not mentioned. The ED had stated that IPC sections 420/387/411/120(B) and PMLA were applicable. A case should be registered under Section 66(2) and other sections of the Mines and Minerals Act and Environmental Protection Act. However, the letter from the District Magistrate of Banka does not mention any sections of the IPC; it only directs the Mineral Development Officer to take action under Section 47 of the Bihar Mineral Rules, 2019. When contacted, the District Magistrate of Banka was found to be on leave, and the Additional District Magistrate in charge had no information regarding the matter.

The Mines Inspector of Banka, Hariom Ojha, has submitted an application to the Banka police station for filing a First Information Report (FIR), but even this application does not mention the illegal sand mining worth ₹131 crore. The application requests the registration of an FIR against Manoj Kumar Pachasia, director of Mahadev Enclave Private Limited, and others, under Rule 40 of the BMMC Rules 1972, Rule 56 of the Bihar Mineral Rules 2019, and relevant sections of the BNS/IPC. However, the mining inspector's application for the FIR does not mention the IPC sections 420/387/411/120(B) cited by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The Station House Officer of Banka has registered case number -/25 against Manoj Kumar Pachasia, Director of M/s Mahadev Enclave Pvt. Ltd., under Section 40 of the BMMC Rules 1972 & 56 of the Rules 2019 and amended Section 2024. These are bailable sections. Although the application for the FIR included a total of 86 pages of attachments.

The question arises: what was the objective behind the brief letter written by the District Magistrate of Banka? Why did the District Magistrate and the mining inspector not mention the illegal mining worth ₹131 crore? Wouldn't it be fair to say that the ED report was not clearly mentioned to protect Manoj Kumar Pachasia, the director of Mahadev Enclave Private Limited? According to sources, a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted by the police headquarters.