Big Raid in Ranchi Uncovers 6 Machines and 30 Crore Linked to Minister in 12 Hours

Cash worth Rs 30 crore has been counted over the past 12 hours, according to sources. Several officials are working to reach a final count.

It was reported that multiple cash counting machines have broken down and new ones have been brought in for use. The room where the cash was found belongs to Jahangir, who is the house help of Sanjiv Lal, a personal secretary to Jharkhand Rural Development minister and Congress leader Alamgir Alam.

The Enforcement Directorate discovered the cash during raids at several premises linked to Virendra Ram, former chief engineer at the Jharkhand Rural Development Department. Ram was arrested last year in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in implementing government schemes.

The recovery of the cash has sparked a political storm, coming just days ahead of the Lok Sabha election in Jharkhand. The BJP has alleged corruption against the Congress minister and pointed to the connection, stirring controversy.

Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi questioned the significance of the recovery from the house of a minister’s secretary’s help and suggested that it raises concerns about what could be found in ministers’ homes. He called for the removal of Alamgir Alam as minister.

Alamgir Alam responded by urging that conclusions should not be drawn before the completion of the ED investigation. He cited the experience of Sanjiv Lal, who had previously served as a secretary to two former ministers, emphasizing that comments on the raids should wait until the investigation is concluded.