December 27, 2024: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted simultaneous raids at three locations linked to Hulas Pandey, a senior leader of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and a close aide of Union Minister Chirag Paswan. The raids, part of an ongoing probe into alleged financial irregularities, took place in Patna, Bengaluru, and Delhi, according to official sources.

The searches, which began early in the morning, involved teams of ED officials supported by local police. Properties associated with Pandey were reportedly scrutinized for evidence, but the agency has yet to provide details about the allegations or findings.

Hulas Pandey, a former Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), is known as a strongman within the LJP. His political career has been marked by controversy, including allegations of involvement in the murder of Brahmeshwar Singh Mukhiya, the founder of the private militia Ranvir Sena. Mukhiya was assassinated in Bihar's Bhojpur district in 2012, a case in which the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) named Pandey as the alleged mastermind in a 2023 chargesheet.

The charges, which Pandey dismissed as a "political conspiracy," were quashed earlier this year by a special court. Despite the relief in the murder case, the ED’s latest action suggests fresh trouble for the former JD(U) leader, who joined Chirag Paswan’s party in recent years.

Hulas Pandey stepped down as chairman of the LJP’s parliamentary board in December 2023 following the murder allegations, though he remains influential in the party.

The ongoing raids add another layer of complexity to the political landscape surrounding Chirag Paswan, raising questions about the party’s leadership and the future of its key players. Further updates from the ED and Pandey’s response are awaited.