Kumar Prabhat
Dumka
A joint operation by the Forest Department and local police triggered high drama in Dumka on Saturday after officials conducted a raid at the Mahuadangal residence of Vivekananda Raut, alias Vivek Raut, former Personal Secretary to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) patriarch and former Chief Minister Shibu Soren, in search of his nephew, Pankaj Raut, who is wanted in a government obstruction case.
The operation, led by probationary Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Pushkar Kale, involved around 20 to 25 forest personnel, women police officers and armed police from Town and Muffasil police stations. The team cordoned off the area in the early morning, prompting a large number of local residents to gather outside the house.
The situation turned tense when villagers, led by Dumka Zila Parishad member Chinta Devi, objected to the raid and questioned the legal basis of the search. Protesters blocked officials from entering the premises and opposed attempts to force open the locks, leading to a nearly 90-minute standoff.
Following negotiations, a limited number of officials, accompanied by police personnel, were allowed to enter the residence. After a brief search, the team came out empty-handed. Officer Pushkar Kale told the gathering that nothing incriminating had been found before leaving the spot.
Dumka Divisional Forest Officer Satwik Vyas later said the raid was linked to a June 13, 2025 case involving an allegedly illegal sawmill operated by Lalji Patel and Company. During that operation, Pankaj Raut and another accused, Jaipal Raut, allegedly obstructed forest officials from performing their duties. A chargesheet was subsequently filed, and the raid was conducted to apprehend Pankaj Raut.
The DFO clarified that the team acted solely on operational intelligence and was unaware that the property belonged to Vivek Raut. Pankaj Raut, however, was not found during the operation, and further action is underway. The raid has since sparked political debate over the manner in which the enforcement operation was carried out.
