ED recovers more than Rs 19 crore from IAS official; documents show prominent politicians were also involved in corruption

RANCHI: The Enforcement Directorate has recovered more than Rs 19 crore of cash in raids conducted at the homes of Jharkhand Mining Secretary Pooja Singhal and her aides. The money was recovered during the raids conducted in connection with an investigation into a corruption case. ED officials conducted searches at various locations linked with Pooja.

Of the Rs 19.31 crore, Rs 17 crore was recovered from Pooja's chartered accountant Suman Kumar. It is learned that three counting machines were used to count the money.

Earlier, the ED had arrested Ram Binod Prasad Sinha, a section officer and junior engineer in Khunti. The arrest was made after 16 FIRs were registered against him by the Jharkhand Vigilance Bureau. Upon questioning, Sinha revealed that several prominent persons, including Pooja, were involved in the corruption.

Officials said that they have seized a number of documents that prove that politicians and top officials were involved in illegal mining in the state.