On Monday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated raids across multiple locations in Ranchi. The ED recovered a staggering sum of over Rs 20 crore from the residence of a domestic aide employed by Sanjiv Lal, the Personal Secretary to Jharkhand Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam. The ongoing tally of the recovered cash continues as authorities delve deeper into the investigation.
The raids are part of a broader probe related to the involvement of Virendra K Ram, the chief engineer at the Jharkhand Rural Development Department. Authorities apprehended him in February 2023 amid allegations of malfeasance in the implementation of governmental initiatives.
As per ED officials, “The Enforcement Directorate is conducting raids at multiple locations in Ranchi, Jharkhand. A substantial cache of cash was retrieved from the domicile of Sanjiv Lal’s household help. He serves as the PS to Alamgir Alam, Rural Development Minister, Jharkhand. The tally has surpassed Rs 20 crores thus far, with counting procedures still underway.”
This isn’t the first instance of financial impropriety surfacing within the department’s ranks. A precedent was set in 2019 when a significant sum of money was seized from one of Ram’s subordinates. Subsequently, the ED assumed jurisdiction over the case under the purview of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The arrest of Virendra K. Ram in February 2023 marked a crucial turning point in the investigation, as the chief engineer became embroiled in a money laundering scandal intertwined with purported irregularities in scheme execution.
Aside from the search at Sanjiv Lal’s aide’s residence, the ED’s probe extended to other locales within Ranchi. Notably, one such venue was the abode of Vikas Kumar, an engineer affiliated with the Road Construction Department.
The raids have triggered a torrent of criticism from opposition quarters, with BJP Member of Parliament Deepak Prakash launching a scathing attack on the ruling coalition comprising Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: BJP MP Deepak Prakash says, “Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Congress and RJD are doing the work of converting Jharkhand into ‘Lootkhand’. Today again an amount of more than Rs 25 crore has been recovered, and it belongs to the ministers of the ruling party. The… https://t.co/OunbwtKMM9 pic.twitter.com/SHdUuIaZXh
— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2024
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