ED's 12-Hour Raid: Rs 35 Crore Cash, Confidential Letter Found at Jharkhand Minister's Staff Residence

In a dramatic swoop that unfolded over the span of 12 intense hours, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) unearthed a staggering sum of Rs 35.23 crore concealed within the confines of a domestic worker's abode. This clandestine treasure trove, allegedly linked to a high-ranking Jharkhand official, Alamgir Alam, was revealed through the relentless churn of six counting machines.

Yet, amidst the chaos of cash discovery, a revelation of a different ilk emerged - one that shone a glaring light on the nexus between power corridors and covert dealings.

Nestled within the recovered riches lay an unexpected find: an official missive bearing the imprimatur of the state apparatus, a letter veiled in the shroud of confidentiality. A senior functionary within the ED characterized this document as 'sensitive,' marking it as a harbinger of a far-reaching breach within the echelons of governance - a leak of unprecedented proportions.

Exactly one year prior, on the fateful date of May 5, 2023, the ED had dispatched a communiqué to the chief secretary of Jharkhand's governmental edifice. Invoking the impositions of Section 66(2) of the PML Act, 2002, the missive detailed the agency's concerns regarding Veerendra Kumar Ram, erstwhile Chief Engineer presiding over the Rural Development Special Zone, with an additional mantle of authority in the Rural Works Department. Within its folds lay a litany of allegations - whispers of 'malpractices' festering within bureaucratic corridors, beseeching the state apparatus to wield the cudgel of justice enshrined within the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act.

Yet, fate had a twist in store for the relentless investigators. Amidst their foray into the bastions of an associate linked to the embattled chief engineer, they stumbled upon the clandestine parchment. A copy of the very missive dispatched by the ED lay ensconced within the confines of the accused's domicile - an ominous testament to the tentacles of corruption woven deep within the fabric of governance.

Within the folds of the letter, the ED's voice echoed with unwavering clarity, delineating the contours of their investigation against Veerendra Kumar Ram and cohorts. “This office is conducting an investigation against Veerendra Kumar Ram and others under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. The subject investigation was initiated on the basis of a case FIR No. 13/19, dated November 13, 2019 registered under section 7(a) of Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 2018 by Anti-Corruption Bureau, Jamshedpur and the Final Report No. 01/2020 dated January 11, 2020 submitted by ACB, Jamshedpur,” the missive from the ED outlined.