Big haul in Ranchi raids linked to minister: over 17 hours, 35 crores seized.

Multiple cash counting machines have broken down, and new ones have been brought in, according to officials. The room where the cash was found belongs to Jahangir, the house help of Sanjiv Lal, a personal secretary to Jharkhand Rural Development minister and Congress leader Alamgir Alam. The Enforcement Directorate uncovered the cash during raids at several premises linked to Virendra Ram, a former chief engineer at Jharkhand Rural Development Department, who was arrested last year in a money laundering case connected 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 highlighted the Congress minister’s connection and accused the opposition party of corruption. Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi questioned what would be found in ministers’ homes if this amount of cash was found at the house of a minister’s secretary’s helper. He also called for the removal of Alamgir Alam as minister. Meanwhile, Kalpana Soren, former Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s wife, has entered active politics following Hemant Soren’s arrest in a money laundering case.

Mr. Alam has urged against drawing conclusions before the ED completes its investigation. He defended Sanjiv Lal’s role as a government employee and a personal secretary based on experience, emphasizing that it is premature to comment on the raids before the ED investigation is concluded.