ED Files Fourth Supplementary Prosecution Complaint in Jharkhand Rural Works Department Corruption.

Headnote

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Ranchi Zonal Office, has filed its fourth Supplementary Prosecution Complaint before the Hon’ble Special PMLA Court, Ranchi, in connection with a large-scale corruption and money laundering case involving officials of the Rural Works Department, Government of Jharkhand. The latest complaint names eight new accused persons, including contractors, aides, and family members of officials, for their involvement in the generation, handling, and laundering of Proceeds of Crime (POC). With this filing, the total number of accused in the case has reached 22.

Background

• The case originates from a predicate offence registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jamshedpur, wherein Junior Engineer Suresh Prasad Verma was caught accepting a bribe.

• Subsequent searches led to the seizure of ₹2.67 crore in cash from premises linked to Veerendra Kumar Ram, the then Chief Engineer of the Rural Works Department.

• The ED investigation uncovered a massive corruption syndicate within the department, involving systematic collection of illegal commissions on tenders.

• The role of Alamgir Alam, the then Minister of Rural Development Department, was established — he allegedly received a fixed commission through his Personal Secretary, Sanjeev Kumar Lal, and aides.

• Earlier searches had resulted in the seizure of over ₹37 crore in cash linked to this corruption network, which was laundered through Delhi-based Chartered Accountants and entry operators to acquire high-value assets.

Key Findings in the Fourth Supplementary Complaint

• Contractor Rajesh Kumar (through his companies M/s Rajesh Kumar Constructions Pvt. Ltd. and M/s Parmanand Singh Builders Pvt. Ltd.) admitted to paying ₹1.88 crore in bribes and providing two luxury vehicles (Toyota Innova and Toyota Fortuner) as illegal gratification.

• Contractor Radha Mohan Sahu admitted to paying ₹39 lakh in bribes and providing another Toyota Fortuner, registered in his son’s name, Ankit Sahu, for the same purpose.

• All three vehicles, identified as Proceeds of Crime, were seized from Veerendra Kumar Ram.

• Searches at the premises of Atikul Rahman @ Atikul Rahman Ansari, aide to the Chief Engineer, resulted in the seizure of ₹4.40 lakh in cash.

• A separate search at contractor Rajiv Kumar Singh’s residence led to the seizure of ₹2.13 crore; he admitted to handling ₹15 crore in commission money on behalf of officials.

• Reeta Lal, wife of co-accused Sanjeev Kumar Lal, was found to have acquired assets from tainted funds, projecting them as legitimate income.

ED’s Action and Current Status

• The ED has provisionally attached assets worth over ₹44 crore identified as Proceeds of Crime.

• The Directorate has prayed before the Hon’ble Court for prosecution of all accused persons named in this complaint and confiscation of identified assets.

• Further investigation is under progress.

Case under PMLA, 2002

Authority: Directorate of Enforcement, Ranchi Zonal Office.