The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted a sweeping operation across Ranchi in Jharkhand, recovering vast sums of money. An astonishing cash haul was confiscated from the housekeeper of Alamgir Alam's private secretary Sanjeev Lal. Reports estimate the cash to be close to $4 million. Banking officials have arrived with cash counting machines to tackle the formidable task of tallying the cash.
Moreover, in a related development, another $400K was discovered at a different location. The cumulative retrieval has thus reached a staggering $4.4 million. In total, six locations are currently under the ED's scrutiny. This February 2023 sweep follows the arrest of Chief Engineer Virendra K. Ram, in connection with alleged irregularities in the execution of schemes and money laundering allegations in the Jharkhand Rural Development Department.
Insider reports suggest that the ED had covertly alerted the state government to the pervading corruption within the Jharkhand Rural Development Department and had recommended lodging an FIR. Surprisingly, not only were these advisories disregarded, but they were also shared with the accused officials. Among the seized items was a letter that bore witness to this negligence.
The ED suspects that this seizure is but a fraction of a much larger black money operation. Initially investigating a bribery case involving a mere $130, ties were soon uncovered leading to the minister himself. Information received indicated a corruption network within Alamgir Alam's ministry, funnelling money to domestic aides, prompting the ED to raid the housekeeper's dwellings where the trove of cash left even the ED officials astounded.
Source: aajtak
PM Modi Highlights Corruption Concerns
Prime Minister Modi, in a recent electoral campaign in Jharkhand, had addressed the pressing issue of corruption. Shortly after his rally, this significant operation took place, uncovering the cash. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has launched an attack on Congress, alleging, 'Let the counting finish; the total might well exceed $6.7 million. The entire Jharkhand government is mired in corruption.'
