Around Rs 19 crores seized from IAS Pooja Singhal's close aides

• Image Credit: Internet

• May 7, 2022 | Dhupali Das

According to reports, three-note counting machines were used to count the cash collected on Friday. During the raid, the police seized large bundles of Rs 2000, Rs 500, Rs 200, and Rs 100 notes.

Digital Desk: Over Rs 19 crore in cash was recovered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from two close associates of Jharkhand IAS officer Pooja Singhal. Reportedly,  the money was discovered during ED raids in connection with a case involving corruption and misuse of the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) scheme.

On Friday, the agency confiscated a total of 19.31 crores, of which 17 crores were recovered from Pooja Singhal's chartered accountant, Suman Kumar. And another 1.8 crores was reportedly found at a different location.

"During searches, incriminating documents were also discovered from the home of the IAS officer," an ED officer stated.

On Friday, the Enforcement Directorate launched a search operation in Jharkhand and four other states in connection with a case related to corruption and misuse of  MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) fund to the tune of Rs 18 crores.

According to reports, three-note counting machines were used to count the cash collected on Friday. During the raid, the police seized large bundles of Rs 2000, Rs 500, Rs 200, and Rs 100 notes.

Previously, ED arrested a former section officer and junior engineer of Kunti, Jharkhand Ram Binod Prasad Sinha. He was apprehended after the Jharkhand Vigilance Bureau filed 16 FIRs against him. 

In 2007-2008, Ram Sinha was accused of misusing Rs 18 crores of MGNREGA funds. Later, the ED filed a charge sheet against him.

During Sinha's interrogation, the identities of prominent bureaucrats who may have been involved in the misuse of MGNREGA funds were uncovered. The names of IAS Pooja Singhal and others came up during the grilling. 

On Friday, the ED searched IAS Pooja Singhal's home and office, as well as several organizations and individuals in Jharkhand, Bihar, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Mumbai.

Pooja Singhal, an IAS officer, is now the Jharkhand government's mines and geology secretary.

Notably, the chief minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, is already under scrutiny by the Election Commission for reportedly granting himself a mining lease license. 

Following the ED's action against the IAS officer who is in charge of the mining lease license in Jharkhand, officials may review papers related to recent allotments.