J’khand mining secy suspended

RANCHI: A day after being arrested in connection with a money laundering case and remanded in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Jharkhand government on Thursday suspended state mining secretary Pooja Singhal, an official said.

ED had produced the 2000batch IAS officer before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court of Prabhat Kumar Sharma after two consecutive days of questioning by the central probe agency. She was sent to Birsa Munda Central Jail, Hotwar, on Wednesday night after ED took her on remand for five days.

“Pooja Singhal has been suspended with immediate effect under the provisions of All India Services (Discipline and Appeal Rules, 1969),” the official said.

A notification from the Jharkhand’s personnel, administrative reforms and official language department read: “In the light of the arrest under Section-19 of PMLA 2002, Pooja Singhal, IAS (Jh: 2000), secretary, industries department, Jharkhand (additional charge secretary, mines and geology department, Jharkhand and managing director, Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation Ltd Ranchi by ED... under Rule-3(3) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, is suspended with immediate effect”. Singhal will be paid subsistence allowance during the period of suspension under Rule-40 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, the notification mentioned.