Enforcement Directorate Recovers Unaccounted Cash Linked to Jharkhand Minister’s Secretary

Ranchi - The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday claimed to have recovered a substantial amount of “unaccounted” cash during searches at the premises of a domestic help, allegedly linked to the secretary of Jharkhand Minister Alamgir Alam.

Videos and photos shared by official sources depicted ED officials extracting bundles of currency notes from large bags in a room located in a building at Gadikhana Chowk. Central force security personnel were also present at the scene.

The domestic help, allegedly residing at this location, is linked to Sanjiv Lal, the personal secretary of Jharkhand Rural Development Minister Alam. When contacted, Alam stated, “I have no official information regarding this so far.” He added that he had seen on TV that the premises are linked to his official private secretary provided by the government.

ED sources revealed that note-counting machines have been deployed to count the cash, which could range between Rs 20-30 crore. The cash is primarily in the denomination of Rs 500, and some jewellery has also been recovered.

Alam, aged 70, is a Congress leader representing the Pakur seat in the Jharkhand assembly.

The searches are connected to a money laundering case against Veerendra Kumar Ram, the former chief engineer of the rural development department, who was arrested by the ED last year. Ram, posted in Ranchi, had allegedly generated proceeds of crime in the name of commission from contractors in exchange for allotment of tenders to them. The agency had attached assets worth Rs 39 crore of the officer last year in April.

The proceeds of crime were allegedly used by Ram and his family members to live a lavish lifestyle. The money laundering case against Ram originates from a complaint of the Jharkhand anti-corruption bureau (ACB).

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.