ED conducts raids in J’khand MGNREGA funds fraud case; seizes over Rs 19 cr. cash

TIL Desk/National/Ranchi/ The ED on Friday conducted raids at multiple premises, including that of Jharkhand Mining Secretary Pooja Singhal and her family, in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the alleged embezzlement of over Rs 18 crore MGNREGA funds in Khunti district of the state during 2008-11, officials said.

The agency seized a total of Rs 19.31 crore cash from two premises that were searched in state capital Ranchi. About Rs 17.51 crore cash has been recovered from the premises of a Ranchi-based Chartered Accountant-cum-financial advisor whose links with the IAS officer and her family are under the scanner, they said.

Around Rs 1.8 crore cash has also been recovered from another location in the city, they said. The officials said a number of “incriminating documents that indicate political and higher bureaucracy links with alleged illegal mining activities in the state” have been seized.