The Assam police is alleged to have been blocking investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into money laundering case registered against two top DHD leaders Niranjan Hojai and Jewel Garlosa who are also accused to have nexus with the political leadership of the state.
Disclosing that DHD(J) commander-in-chief Niranjan Hojai and chairman Jewel Garlosa, who are not allowed to be interrogated by the ED even after the order of the special court, Assam, security sources told this newspaper that sleuths of the investigating agency approached the jail authorities for their interrogation but both of them were stated to be in the custody of special branch of the Assam police.
The special branch of the Assam police informed the Enforcement Directorate that the DHD leaders are in Guwahati Medical College for their treatment. Accordingly the ED approached the superintendent of the Guwahati Medical College Hospital, who confirmed the presence of Niranjan Hojai in the hospital, but clarified in a written reply that Hojai has already been discharged from the GMC on September 21 but the police was not taking him back to jail. Since August 21, the militant leader was occupying the paying cabin number 5 of the GMC. The Medical College authorities also wrote several letters to the Guwahati jail authorities and senior superintendent of police (city) to take back the militant leader but they are reluctant to shift them to jail, security sources said.
Jewel Garlosa is also spending a comfortable life in a makeshift jail created in the headquarters of the special branch of the Assam police. Even after repeated reminder of the ED, the police was not shifting him to the central jail, security sources said.
The investigation into money laundering case is expected to open Pandora’s box as these militant leaders have not only transferred a huge amount of money to Nepal, Thailand and Singapore but also bought bungalows. The investigation may also unearth their nexus with people in the state’s political circle, who were paying money to the outfit.
As the court has permitted the ED to interrogate the militant leaders at the central jail, the investigating agency is left with no option but to wait for their return to the jail.