Jharkhand Raid: ED Finds ‘Rs 20 Cr Cash’ At Minister’s Aide’s Premises, BJP Says ‘Endless Story Of Corruption

ED Raids Minister's Aide, Recovers Rs 20-30 Crore

• The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids in Ranchi, Jharkhand, as part of an ongoing investigation into a money laundering case.
• The investigation is linked to Virendra K Ram, the former chief engineer of the Jharkhand Rural Development Department, arrested last year for alleged irregularities in scheme implementation.

#WATCH | The Enforcement Directorate is conducting raids at multiple locations in Ranchi. Huge amount of cash recovered from household help of Sanjiv Lal - PS to Jharkhand Rural Development minister Alamgir Alam, in Virendra Ram case.

ED arrested Virendra K. Ram, the chief… pic.twitter.com/VTpUKBOPE7

— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2024

Cash Recovery

• ED recovered a substantial amount of "unaccounted cash", estimated to be between Rs 20 to 30 crore.
• The cash was seized from the premises of the house help of Sanjiv Lal, personal secretary to Jharkhand Minister Alamgir Alam.

Details of Recovery

• The cash was primarily in Rs 500 denomination.
• Some jewelry was also recovered.
• Counting machines were brought in to ascertain the exact amount.

Related Developments

• Rs 3 crore was recovered from another location related to the raids.

Delhi | Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Hqrs. office has recovered and seized 19.500 Kg of Gold valued at Rs 14.04 Crores from the locker of a cyber fraudster Punit Kumar, maintained in the name of his mother with Ballabhgarh branch of Indian Bank, Faridabad, Haryana on… pic.twitter.com/rIzSzT8jGd

— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2024

Allegations and Demand

• The BJP has demanded Alamgir Alam's immediate custody and strict questioning over the cash haul.
• The recovery is seen as evidence of corruption within the Congress-led government, according to the BJP.

Political Background

• Alamgir Alam, a senior Congress leader, is Jharkhand's Rural Development Minister.

Response from Minister Alam

• Alam refrained from commenting on the raids, stating it would be inappropriate before the completion of the ED's investigation.

Summary

• The raids and subsequent cash seizure highlight the ongoing battle against corruption in Jharkhand and the political ramifications of such investigations in the state.