Massive Cash Haul Unveiled in Raids on Jharkhand Minister’s Aide’s House Help

Ranchi, 06 May 2024: In a dramatic turn of events, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has unearthed an astonishing ₹25 crore in unaccounted cash during raids on the premises of a household help linked to Sanjiv Lal, the Personal Secretary to a prominent Jharkhand Minister and senior Congress leader, Alamgir Alam. These raids, conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), have sent shockwaves across the political landscape of Jharkhand.

The ED’s crackdown unfolded on Monday across various locations in Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand, targeting key associates of Virendra Ram, the former chief engineer at the Jharkhand Rural Development Department. Ram, previously arrested by the ED in February 2023 over allegations of money laundering, has once again found himself at the center of a corruption storm.

Alamgir Alam, a 70-year-old Congress leader representing the Pakur seat in the Jharkhand assembly, minced no words in condemning the rampant corruption in the state. “Corruption is not ending in Jharkhand. This money during elections indicates that there is a plan to spend this money in the elections,” Alam expressed, reflecting the growing concerns over the influence of illicit funds in electoral processes.

The ED’s investigation has cast a wide net, encompassing approximately half a dozen locations associated with Virendra Ram and his close circle. Among the targeted areas were Sail City in Ranchi, where a team of ED officials scoured the premises in search of Vikas Kumar, an engineer from the Road Construction Department. Simultaneous raids were also conducted in the Bariatu, Morhabadi, and Bodia areas, intensifying the agency’s efforts to root out corruption.

This recent haul adds another layer to the ongoing saga surrounding Virendra Ram, who was initially apprehended by the ED in February 2023 following extensive searches in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, and several other locations spanning Jharkhand, Bihar, and Delhi. The arrest was in connection with alleged irregularities in the implementation of government schemes, plunging Ram into legal turmoil.

The ED’s relentless pursuit of justice has underscored its commitment to combating financial malfeasance. Notably, this isn’t the first instance of the agency seizing significant sums linked to Virendra Ram; a substantial cash recovery from one of his subordinates in 2019 had preceded the current developments. The case, now under the purview of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, exemplifies the persistent battle against corruption in India’s bureaucratic corridors.

As investigations continue to unfold and the political fallout reverberates, the raids on the house help of a ministerial aide serve as a stark reminder of the enduring struggle to cleanse the system of graft and restore public trust in governance.