Saturday , November 16 2024

First PA, then servant, now arrest of minister… ED action after finding Rs 35 crore cash in Jharkhand

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday arrested Congress leader and Jharkhand Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam in a money laundering case. On the second day of questioning at the agency's regional office, he was detained under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after nearly six hours of questioning.

Alamgir Alam has been taken to the special PMLA court in Ranchi today where he will appear after some time. Where ED will demand his remand. The central agency interrogated him for more than nine hours on Tuesday and also recorded his statement.

Last week, the ED had arrested Alamgir Alam's personal secretary and State Administrative Service officer Sanjeev Kumar Lal (52) and domestic help Jahangir Alam (42) after seizing over Rs 35 crore in unaccounted cash from one of his flats. Many counting machines were brought in to count. Apart from this, some jewelery has also been recovered from the flat of Jahangir Alam. It is alleged that all this money was for commission in exchange for tender for road construction in rural areas.

The money laundering probe pertains to alleged irregularities in the state rural development department. Congress leader Alamgir Alam is the Rural Development Minister in Jharkhand and represents Pakur seat in the state assembly. This raid was conducted in connection with the ongoing investigation in the money laundering case against Virendra K Ram, former Chief Engineer of Jharkhand Rural Development Department. Who were arrested last year. After this the scope of investigation increased.