ED Raids in Ranchi Unveil Substantial Cash Linked to Jharkhand Minister’s Secretary
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated raids across multiple sites in Ranchi on Monday, resulting in the discovery of a substantial sum of cash from the domestic aide of Sanjiv Lal, the personal secretary to Jharkhand’s rural development minister, Alamgir Alam, concerning the Virendra Ram case.
Enforcement Directorate Unveils Cash Stash in Ranchi Residence Linked to Jharkhand Minister’s Aide
Insiders from the ED have disclosed that the seized cash is currently being tallied to ascertain its exact value, estimated to range between ₹20-30 crore. Predominantly comprised of ₹500 notes, the cache also includes recovered jewelry, as reported by PTI.
Cash Seizure and Jewelry Recovery: ED’s Ranchi Raids Target Jharkhand Minister’s Secretary’s Aide
Alam, aged 70, a notable Congress figure representing the Pakur constituency in the Jharkhand assembly.
Allegations and Revelations: ED Raids in Ranchi Unveil Cash Connections to Jharkhand Minister’s Office
Video footage depicts officials from the central investigative agency extracting stacks of currency from bags within a designated space.
Investigative Insights: ED Raids Expose Cash Hoard Linked to Jharkhand Minister’s Aide
Unraveling the Case
ED’s Progress in Probing Alleged Corruption within Jharkhand’s Rural Development Department
The Enforcement Directorate has advanced its inquiry into purported corruption within Jharkhand’s rural development sphere. Virendra Ram, the department’s chief engineer, was apprehended in February 2023 in relation to a money laundering case tied to suspected irregularities in government scheme implementation.
ED’s Investigation into Jharkhand Rural Development Department Unearths Corruption Allegations
An FIR was lodged by the state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in November 2019, subsequent to the arrest of Suresh Prasad Verma, a junior engineer, for accepting bribes. During the ACB’s investigation, a substantial amount of cash was discovered in a property owned by Verma and occupied by his cousin, Alok Ranjan, who maintains connections with Virendra Ram.
ACB’s FIR and ED’s Probe: Unveiling Corruption Nexus in Jharkhand’s Rural Development
Per the ED’s remand document, Ram, alongside his accountant, stands accused of laundering illicit funds through fictitious transactions. Allegedly, the laundered funds were channeled into various bank accounts belonging to Ram and his family members. Furthermore, the illicit funds purportedly facilitated acquisitions of prime real estate in New Delhi, Jamshedpur, and Ranchi, in addition to luxury vehicles.
