ED conducts raids in J’khand, Bihar in Pooja Singhal case

RAIDS WERE CONDUCTED AT SIX LOCATIONS IN RANCHI AND IN MUZAFFARPUR

RANCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted raids at around seven locations in Jharkhand and Bihar in connection with the money laundering probe involving IAS officer Pooja Singhal and her associates, officials said. Raids were conducted at six locations in Ranchi besides one in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, sources said.

According to officials, Businessmen and real estate developers were primarily on radar of the federal agency on Tuesday.

Those raided on Tuesday included one Vishal Chaudhary, owner of Frontline Global Services, a firm working in the field of skill development in Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. Besides his residence in posh Ashok Nagar locality in the state capital, an address linked to him in Rahul Nagar area under Brahmpura police station in Muzaffarpur, Bihar was also raided by the sleuths, officials said.

Besides Chaudhary, raids were also conducted in offices of two real estate developers, including one who is a relative of a top official currently posted in the chief minister’s office, an official said.

Officials said the action is being carried out under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Earlier this month, the ED had conducted raids at several locations across four states including the official residence of Mines secretary Pooja Singhal, Ranchi’s Pulse Hospital, owned by her husband Abhishek Jha and residence and office of their chartered accountant Suman Kumar, who is now in judicial custody. Singhal was arrested by the ED early this month in a moneylaundering investigation linked to alleged embezzlement of MNREGA funds in Jharkhand’s Khunti district and other financial irregularities.

The 2000 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer was later suspended by the state government and she is currently in the custody of the federal probe agency, which would end on Wednesday.