India: ED arrests Jharkhand minister Alamgir Alam in money laundering case after huge cash seizure

The Enforcement Directorate (ED)arrested Jharkhand cabinet minister and Congress leader Alamgir Alam in connection with a money laundering case on Wednesday (May 15).This arrest follows hisnine-hour interrogationby the central probe agency at its zonal headquarters in Ranchi.

On May 6, the EDconducted a raid on the apartment of one Jahangir Alam, who serves as the house help for Alamgir Alam’s personal secretary, Sanjeev Lal, and seized over Rs 37 crore ($4.5mn)in cash. Subsequently, both Alam and Lal were arrested after the raid.

VIDEO | Visuals from outside Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Earlier today, Jharkhand Minister and Congress leader Alamgir Alam was arrested by the ED in connection with a money laundering case. pic.twitter.com/Nj72AwhUuq — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 15, 2024

Connection to ongoing money laundering probe

The raids were part of an ongoing investigation into a money laundering case involving Virendra K Ram, the former chief engineer of the Jharkhand Rural Development Department, who was arrested last year. The investigation is linked to alleged irregularities in the implementation of certain schemes within the department.

As part of this probe, manycounting machines were used during the raid to tally the unaccounted cash, predominantly in Rs 500 denomination. Additionally, agency officials discovered some jewellery at Jahangir Alam's residence.

Alam, aged 70, was summoned to the Enforcement Directorate's zonal office in Ranchi on Tuesday (May 14) to givehis statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

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(With inputs from agencies)