3 min readRanchiMay 17, 2024 05:55 PM IST
First published on: May 17, 2024 at 11:17 AM IST
The Enforcement Directorate Thursday told a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ranchi that Jharkhand Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam allegedly had a fixed share of 1.5 per cent for finalising tenders by the Rural Development Department.
Alam, a Congress leader, was arrested Wednesday by the agency after several searches were conducted at premises linked to his personal secretary Sanjiv Lal and Lal’s domestic help Jehangir Alam. The ED recovered Rs 37.5 crore in cash from these searches.
Seeking minister Alam’s remand, the ED also told the court, “It is ascertained that seized cash of Rs 32.2 crores was found and seized from a flat in the name of Jahangir Alam… (He was keeping the cash) at the instruction of Sanjeev Kumar Lal who was doing so on behalf of Alamgir Alam…”
The ED said the “process of collection and distribution of commission was taken care of by assistant engineers posted at Rural Development and Rural Works Department…the share of Minister Alamgir Alam was 1.5% of allocated tender amount.”
The agency also alleged that Alam had, in September 2022, received Rs 3 crore as commission from one assistant engineer.
The ED registered a case in 2020 after Jharkhand government’s Anti-Corruption Branch had investigated corruption allegedly involving chief engineer Virendra Ram and others in the Rural Development Department. Following its own investigations, the ED filed a prosecution complaint and later a supplementary complaint against 10 people, including Ram.
“Ram used to collect commissions in terms of allocation of tender and execution of work… During the investigation, it was ascertained that the whole process of collection and distribution of commission was taken care of by assistant engineers…,” the ED told the PMLA court.
ED further submitted that several officials from the “top to bottom” of Rural Development Department are involved in this nexus and that large payments were being received in cash that was later laundered.
“Also, the role of Alamgir Alam is found to be crucial in the ongoing investigation based upon the statement of witnesses and material collected and in possession of ED… During the course of investigation, many instances and corroborative evidence were also found which clearly establishes the role of Alamgir Alam, who is found to be involved in offence of money laundering, and has acquired, and is in possession of, proceeds of crime which is concealed and kept at premises of his associates…,” the ED submitted.
Jharkhand Minister Alamgir Alam leaves after being produced in a court in Ranchi, Thursday. (PTI Photo) 
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