By – Prakarsh Kastwar
A ₹25 crore cash stashed was discovered at Sanjiv Lal’s housekeeper’s residence.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), after performing several raids around Ranchi, Jharkhand, came to a shocking discovery.
Money worth ₹25 crore was discovered in Sanjiv Lal’s housekeeper’s residence. Lal is the personal secretary to Jharkhand Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam.
The raids are part of a continuing inquiry into possible discrepancies in the implementation of certain schemes related to money laundering activities. Last year, the ED arrested Virendra Ram, a former chief engineer of the Jharkhand Rural Development Department, on allegations of money laundering related to government program irregularities.
The ED’s operation was broad in its reach, targeting approximately six sites associated with Virendra Ram and his immediate surround. The simultaneous raids were carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), with teams stationed in a number of major locations, including Sail City in Ranchi.
The most shocking details came from Sanjiv Lal’s domestic assistant’s residence. The quantity of hidden money was indicated by rooms full of cash notes in the raid camera footage. The exact amount of cash is being counted, but preliminary figures indicate roughly ₹25 crore.
The incident has sparked a political controversy, with BJP MP Nishikant Dubey claiming that the money discovered is simply a small component of a much larger corruption fraud involving the Jharkhand ruling party.
Taking advantage of the situation, the opposition has attacked the state government, saying that it is making Jharkhand into “Lootkhand.” The cash is still being counted, and the ED continues its investigation.
The research team also discovered a pen drive that supposedly included transaction details for some Jharkhand MPs. The full breadth of the individuals involved, as well as the implications of this discovery, have yet to be revealed.
Hemant Soren, Jharkhand’s former Chief Minister, was detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in January of this year on allegations relating to an alleged land scam. He is charged with being the primary recipient of fraudulently obtained land. He resigned as Chief Minister upon his arrest, and he has been jailed ever since.
There has been significant political instability in the state, with numerous arrests as well as ongoing searches and raids. This has cast doubt on the stability of the current administration and created an atmosphere of uncertainty.