Jharkhand: IAS Pooja Singhal's Suspension Revoked After Bail In Money Laundering Case, Set To Resume Duties

Pooja Singhal was jailed for two years in a money laundering case, and had her suspension revoked after securing bail.

Pooja Singhal

Source : PTI

The suspension of Pooja Singhal, an IAS officer, who was jailed for two years in a money laundering case, was revoked after she secured bail. According to a PTI report, on May 12, 2022, Pooja Singhal was suspended after she was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The money laundering case was linked to the alleged embezzlement of MGNREGA funds in the Khunti district of the state and other charges.

"In light of the recommendations made by the Suspension Review Committee after due consideration, Pooja Singhal, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, has been reinstated with effect from December 7, 2024, following her release on bail," said a notification issued by the Department of Personnel, Administrative Reforms and Raj Bhasa on Tuesday evening.

Singhal will contribute to the Department of Personnel, Administrative Reforms and Raj Bhasa after she is relieved from her suspension.

The ED had produced her before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court of Prabhat Kumar Sharma after two consecutive days of questioning by the central probe agency. The ED had alleged, that irregularities were found in the accounts of the scheme while she served as the deputy commissioner and district magistrate of Chatra, Khunti and Palamu between 2007 and 2013.

The agency had raided several locations in Bihar and Jharkhand. On May 6, the ED had conducted raids in 18 locations across four states, namely Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Punjab, and recovered Rs 18 crore in cash from the house of a Ranchi-based Chartered Accountant who is allegedly linked to Singhal.

Prior to her arrest, Singha was interrogated by the central agency for two days. Her husband and Managing Director of Pulse Sanjeevani Healthcare Private Hospital, Abhishek Jha, was also interrogated by the ED after raiding the hospital.

The money laundering investigation against Singhal and others pertains to a case in which former Jharkhand government junior engineer Ram Binod Prasad Sinha was arrested by the agency on June 17, 2020, from West Bengal. He was booked under the PMLA in 2012 on the basis of state vigilance bureau FIRs against him.

Singhal, a former secretary in the state Mines Department, of money laundering. A special court granted her bail on December 7 last year.