In an unravelling case of alleged corruption, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a series of raids across Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, and recovered a massive amount of cash, reportedly exceeding Rs 30 crore. The raids targeted multiple locations, including the residence of a house help employed by Sanjiv Lal, who is the private secretary to Jharkhand’s Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam.
The Scene of the Raid
During the operation, ED officials seized numerous bundles of currency notes from the residence of the minister’s aide’s domestic helper. The visuals of cash stashed in various parts of the room went viral on social media, drawing widespread attention and shock. The ED has stated that the cash is still being counted to ascertain the final amount.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey shared a video on social media platform X, highlighting the seized cash and implicating the involvement of Jharkhand’s ruling parties. Deepak Prakash, another BJP MP from Jharkhand, criticised the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and RJD for allegedly converting the state into a hub of corruption, which he termed ‘lootkhand’.
Background of the Raids
These raids are part of an ongoing investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), linked to Virendra Ram, a former chief engineer at the Jharkhand Rural Development Department. Ram was arrested in February 2023, accused of money laundering related to irregularities in government schemes.
Authorities also recovered a pen drive containing alleged transaction details involving some Jharkhand politicians, which could potentially broaden the scope of the ongoing investigation.
The case continues to develop as more details are expected to emerge following the analysis of the recovered data and further investigative actions by the ED.
