Enforcement Directorate Raids Linked to Jharkhand Minister Alamgir Alam’s Aide

The Enforcement Directorate conducted raids in various locations in Ranchi, uncovering a significant amount of unaccounted cash allegedly linked to a close aide of Jharkhand‘s Minister of Rural Development, Alamgir Alam. The video footage from the search revealed stacks of currency notes scattered in a room connected to the personal secretary of Alam’s aide.

Alam, a leading Congress figure representing the Pakur constituency in the Jharkhand assembly, expressed that he had not received official details about the search operation. He highlighted that the property searched was linked to the official private secretary provided by the government.

Officials reported that over Rs 20 crore have been verified in the cash seized during the raid, with counting procedures still ongoing. The Enforcement Directorate employed note-counting machines to determine the exact amount, estimated to range between Rs 20-30 crore.

In a previous incident in February 2023, the ED detained Veerendra Kumar Ram, the former chief engineer of the Jharkhand Rural Development Department, alleging misconduct in the implementation of government schemes. The agency accused Ram of generating illicit gains through commission from contractors.

Following the recent raids, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized the Congress party, asserting that corruption was thriving under the state’s ruling government. BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo raised concerns about the amount recovered during the ED raid at the personal secretary’s residence, emphasizing the welfare of the indigenous people in Jharkhand.

Godda MP and BJP leader Nishikant Dubey expressed shock over the substantial cash uncovered during the operation, drawing attention to the ministerial connections of those involved. The ED’s searches extended to multiple locations, including Sail City in Ranchi, targeting individuals like engineer Vikas Kumar and prompting responses from various political figures.

Simultaneously, Pradeep Yadav, a prominent political leader, also came under scrutiny as the Enforcement Directorate continued its investigation. The ongoing series of raids signaled a significant crackdown on potential financial irregularities within the state’s administrative circles.