After Seizure Of Rs 34.50 Crore Cash, ED Arrests Jharkhand Congress Minister's Secretary, His Domestic Help

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Sanjiv Lal, the personal secretary of Jharkhand Congress Minister Alamgir Alam, along with Lal's domestic help, following raids at various locations on Monday (6 May).

The raids led to the seizure of approximately Rs 34.50 crore in cash, according to agency sources.

"We arrested PS Sanjiv Lal and his domestic help Jahangir Alam late on Monday night. We will be taking them on remand and questioning them about the source of the funds. We have also seized certain incriminating documents, such as a list of transfer posting requests and the ED's letter last year to the chief secretary regarding action against Virendra Ram. We are currently analysing these documents," said a source within the central agency.

These searches are part of a money laundering case against former chief engineer Virendra Kumar Ram of the state Rural Development Department, who was arrested by the ED last year.

Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam distanced himself from the matter, stating that he was unaware of the ED action.

"I don’t know what is being said about it, but the PS is a government officer and we keep such experienced individuals. Sanjiv Lal has previously served as PS to other ministers," he commented.

During an election rally in Andhra Pradesh's Vemagiri on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referenced the ED raids.

"Why is it that those close to the Congress's first family are the ones from whom large amounts of cash are recovered? Was the seized cash intended for distribution somewhere? Has the Congress's first family amassed warehouses of black money? The country wants to know from Congress's shehzada," he remarked, taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi.

The Jharkhand Congress had previously noted that Sanjiv Lal had also served as the personal secretary to former BJP minister C P Singh. Lal has been Alam's personal secretary since Alam became a cabinet minister in 2019.

The party suggested that the timing of the ED action, just ahead of Rahul Gandhi's visit to the state for a rally on Tuesday, was deliberate.