Enforcement Directorate Recovers Rs 30 Crore Cash From House Of Domestic Help Of Jharkhand Minister's Aide

In the elections season, the Enforcement Directorate on Monday recovered a huge amount of "unaccounted" cash during searches of premises allegedly linked to an aide of a state minister, official sources said. Video footage shared by the sources showed wads of currency notes spread in a room that is alleged to be of the domestic help of the private secretary of rural development minister Alamgir Alam.

The searches are linked to a money laundering case against the former chief engineer of the rural development department, Virendra K Ram, who was arrested by the ED last year. Till now, Enforcement Directorate officials recovered cash worth Rs 30 crore and counting is still on with the help of 12 cash counting machines.

News agency PTI contacted Alam, who said that he has no official information regarding the matter so far.

"I have been watching TV and it says the premise is linked to the official PS (private secretary) provided to me by the government," he added.

Taking on the state government over corruption allegations, Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdev said, "This money during elections indicates that there is a plan to spend this money in the elections. The Election Commission should take action on this."

According to the reports, the investigating agency conducted nine raids simultaneous at different locations, including Sail City in Ranchi early morning today. A team of ED was scouring Sail City to locate Vikas Kumar, an engineer from the Road Construction Department. Another ED team is conducting raids in the Bariatu, Morhabadi, and Bodia areas.