The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Jharkhand Minister Alamgir Alam in connection with a money laundering case. This arrest comes on the heels of a startling discovery where ₹35 crore was found at the residence of his personal secretary’s domestic help.
Alam’s arrest follows a period of questioning by the central agency regarding the cash seizure. The state rural development minister had acknowledged the summons and appeared before the ED for interrogation, lasting approximately 10 hours the previous day.
The Congress leader was specifically summoned to the ED’s zonal office in Ranchi to provide his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The investigation focuses on suspected irregularities within the state’s rural development department.
Earlier, Sanjeev Lal, Alam’s personal secretary, and his house help, Jahangir Alam, were apprehended by the ED after a staggering ₹35.23 crore was seized from their premises in Ranchi.
The raids, initiated by at least seven teams of the agency, commenced at 6 am and led to extensive searches, particularly at Jahangir Alam’s residence near Ranchi hill.
Throughout the day, multiple cash counting machines were employed to tally the recovered funds, highlighting the scale of the operation. Alamgir Alam, in response to media inquiries, refrained from elaborating, indicating the ongoing elections and the ED’s investigation into the matter.
The ED has revealed that the investigation has implicated “senior bureaucrats and politicians,” indicating a widening scope for the inquiry. Further, searches were conducted at the rural development ministry in Ranchi, with Lal accompanying ED officials during the process.
This arrest and the subsequent probe signify a significant development in the realm of governance and accountability, raising pertinent questions about financial transparency and political integrity within the state.
As the investigation unfolds, it is anticipated that further revelations may shed light on the intricacies of the alleged money laundering activities and the individuals involved.
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