Two More Arrests in Patna Money Laundering Case Linked to IAS Sanjeev Hans and Ex-MLA Gulab Yadav

Patna: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested two more individuals, Devendra Singh Anand, a tire businessman from Pune, and Bipal Bansal, in connection with the ongoing money laundering investigation involving IAS officer Sanjeev Hans and former MLA Gulab Yadav. Both were presented in the ED’s special court in Patna on Wednesday and have been remanded to Beur jail in judicial custody until November 25.

The arrests followed extensive questioning by ED officials after the agency expanded its investigation. Anand and Bansal are accused of facilitating financial transactions for Hans and Yadav. During earlier questioning on July 16, 2024, Anand revealed that between 2012 and 2020, associates of Yadav deposited Rs 4.59 crore into his firm’s account, M/s Anand. Of this amount, Rs 2.47 crore came from various locations in Bihar, and Rs 3.08 crore was subsequently transferred to accounts belonging to Yadav’s relatives, following his instructions.

ED officials also seized a ledger during a raid on Anand’s premises, revealing that he had received an additional Rs 1 crore from Yadav. Between 2012 and 2020, Yadav is alleged to have transferred a total of Rs 8.67 crore through transactions involving the arrested suspects.

So far, 13 individuals, including Hans, Yadav, and others, have been implicated in the case. Five primary suspects—Hans, Yadav, Pushpraj Bajaj, Shadab Ahmed, and Praveen Chaudhary—have already been arrested and interrogated.

Sources indicate that the ED may soon issue notices for questioning to Mona Hans, wife of Sanjeev Hans, and Ambika Yadav, wife of Gulab Yadav, along with other individuals. Further arrests could follow if new evidence comes to light.