Ranchi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated a series of raids in various locations in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, resulting in the discovery of unaccounted cash amounting to ₹ 25 crore. These recent raids, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), specifically targeted several places associated with Virendra Ram, the former chief engineer at the Jharkhand Rural Development Department, and his close associates.
Virendra Ram was apprehended by the ED in February 2023 in relation to a money laundering case. Video evidence from the raid depicts a substantial pile of currency notes scattered in a room allegedly belonging to the domestic helper of Sanjiv Lal, the personal secretary to Jharkhand Rural Development minister Alamgir Alam. Alamgir Alam, a 70-year-old Congress leader, represents the Pakur seat in the Jharkhand assembly.
Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdev expressed concerns about the ongoing corruption in Jharkhand, stating that the presence of this money during elections suggests a plan to utilize it for electoral purposes. Shahdev urged the Election Commission to take appropriate action in response.
The investigative agency is currently conducting simultaneous raids at nine locations, including Sail City in Ranchi. One team from the ED is actively searching Sail City to locate Vikas Kumar, an engineer from the Road Construction Department. Meanwhile, another team is conducting raids in the Bariatu, Morhabadi, and Bodia areas.