The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Dinesh Gope, the head of the People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI), in a money laundering case. The arrest was carried out by the ED’s Ranchi zonal team at Palamu Central Jail. He was subsequently brought before a special PMLA court in Ranchi via video conferencing, and the court ordered his remand to judicial custody for 14 days.
The ED’s investigation is based on multiple FIRs and charge sheets filed by Jharkhand Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). These legal actions outline serious offenses attributed to Dinesh Gope and the PLFI, including murder, attempted murder, extortion, and other illegal activities. The investigation revealed that Dinesh Gope was involved in extorting money from various individuals and businesses in Jharkhand and nearby states, including contractors, businessmen, coal traders, and transporters. His illicit earnings are estimated to be approximately 20 crore rupees.
To conceal the source of these illegal funds, Gope utilized shell companies and firms. These companies were registered under the names of his wives, Shakuntala Devi and Geeta, along with close associates, in an effort to legitimize the unlawful money. Furthermore, the investigation disclosed that the black money was used to finance the organization’s operations, purchase weaponry, and invest in land and properties. The ED is now focusing on the entire network to identify further participants and hidden assets. The agency is also collecting information regarding the levy-extortion network, funding sources, and investments of Dinesh Gope.
