Corruption
‘Noton Ka Pahad’ – Rs 25 Crore Found at Residence of Man Linked to Jharkhand Minister Alamgir Alam’s Personal Secretary
Ranchi: In a significant development that has rocked Jharkhand politics, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently conducted a raid uncovering a staggering amount of Rs 20 crore in cash from a location linked to Sanjiv Lal, Personal Secretary to Jharkhand’s Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam. This raid forms part of a broader investigation into money laundering activities associated with the former chief engineer of the rural development department, Veerendra K Ram.
The cash was reportedly found in the residence of the household help employed by Sanjiv Lal. Video footage from the raid displayed rooms filled with stacks of currency notes, revealing the scale of the unaccounted wealth. The ED’s action is the latest in a series of moves against alleged corruption linked to the implementation of rural development schemes in the state.
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Veerendra K Ram, the central figure in this investigation, was arrested in February 2023. He is accused of accumulating assets worth over Rs 100 crore through corrupt practices. A pen drive containing transaction details with various Jharkhand politicians was also recovered from him, indicating a possible network of corruption extending within the political framework of the region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a public gathering in Nabarangpur, Odisha, commented on the situation, emphasizing his government’s stance against corruption.
“Aaj Jharkhand me noton ke pahad mil rahe hain (today, mountains of cash are being found in Jharkhand). Modi is taking action against corruption,” stated the Prime Minister, highlighting the findings from the ED’s raids.
The discovery has sparked a flurry of reactions among political figures. BJP MP from Jharkhand’s Godda, Nishikant Dubey, shared the raid video online, noting that over Rs 30 crore was still being counted and lauding the ED’s efforts against corruption under the leadership of the Hemant Soren-led government. Similarly, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary labeled the implicated parties as ‘looters’, criticizing their alleged history of exploiting governmental positions.
On the other side, Alamgir Alam, the Jharkhand Minister directly linked to the controversy through his personal secretary, has voiced caution and skepticism about the raids. He stated that he had not received any official information and was made aware of the situation through television reports. “Sanjiv Lal is a government employee and has been a personal secretary to two former ministers. It is not right to comment on the raids before the ED investigation is completed,” Alam explained, requesting patience and due process of law.