Jharkhand Minister Alamgir Alam Questioned By ED In Money Laundering Scam Probe

On May 6, the Enforcement Directorate conducted a raid at the residence of Jahangir Alam's house help, who works for Alamgir Alam's personal secretary, Sanjeev Lal.

Jharkhand Minister Alamgir Alam.

Days after the Enforcement Directorate arrested Jharkhand minister Alamgir Alam’s personal secretary Sanjiv Lal and Lal’s domestic help Jehangir, the agency on Tuesday questioned the minister in connection with a huge cash recovery from the household help. 

Earlier today, while appearing before the central probe agency, Alam stated: "I am a person who follows the law."

#WATCH | Jharkhand Minister Alamgir Alam arrives at the office of the Enforcement Directorate in Ranchi, in connection with a huge cash recovery from the household help of his PS Sanjeev Lal

He says, "I am a person who follows the law..." pic.twitter.com/nLekfo8Hlf

— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2024

On May 6, the Enforcement Directorate conducted a raid at the residence of Jahangir Alam's house help, who works for Alamgir Alam's personal secretary, Sanjeev Lal. During the raid, an astonishing amount of over Rs 37 crore in cash was discovered. Following the raid, both Alam and Lal were apprehended by authorities.

The cash seizure was part of simultaneous raids carried out at multiple locations in Ranchi by the investigative agency. In addition to the substantial cash find, several counting machines were deployed to tally the unaccounted funds, which predominantly consisted of Rs 500 denomination notes. Furthermore, the agency officials also retrieved some jewelry from Jahangir Alam's apartment.

Alamgir Alam, a 70-year-old Congress leader, serves as the Rural Development Minister in Jharkhand and represents the Pakur constituency in the state Assembly.

The raids were conducted in connection with an ongoing investigation into a money laundering case involving Virendra K Ram, a former chief engineer of the Jharkhand Rural Development Department, who was arrested last year. The investigation is linked to alleged irregularities in the implementation of certain schemes within the department.

In 2019, a significant sum of cash was discovered in the possession of one of Virendra K Ram's subordinates. Subsequently, the Enforcement Directorate assumed control of the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) Act.