Massive Cash Hoard Unearthed in Raid on House Help of Jharkhand Minister’s Aide

GG News Bureau
Ranchi, 6th May. In a startling development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated a sweeping series of raids in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, culminating in the staggering discovery of ₹25 crore in unaccounted cash.

The raids, carried out under the aegis of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), targeted multiple locations associated with Virendra Ram, erstwhile chief engineer at the Jharkhand Rural Development Department, and his close associates.

Virendra Ram’s previous apprehension by the ED in February 2023 in connection with a money laundering case casts a shadow over the recent discoveries, indicating the persistence of illicit financial activities within the state.

Video footage from the raid showcases a mountain of currency notes strewn across a room allegedly belonging to the domestic aide of Sanjiv Lal, the personal secretary to Jharkhand Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam. Alamgir Alam, a 70-year-old Congress leader representing the Pakur seat in the Jharkhand assembly, finds himself embroiled in controversy as the investigation unfolds.

The spectacle of vast sums of cash emerging just ahead of elections has ignited condemnation from various quarters, with Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdev decrying the pervasive corruption within the state. The apparent intent to utilize the seized funds for electoral purposes has prompted calls for intervention from the Election Commission to stem the tide of malpractice.

As the ED intensifies its scrutiny, simultaneous raids are underway at nine locations, including the prominent Sail City in Ranchi. Teams are actively scouring various areas, including Bariatu, Morhabadi, and Bodia, in pursuit of further leads and potential suspects, underscoring the gravity of the situation and the agency’s determination to root out financial impropriety.