ED raids Jharkhand minister’s brother, PA
The Enforcement Directorate on Monday conducted raids at several locations linked to Jharkhand Minister Mithilesh Kumar Thakur and his associates in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme’s implementation in the state.
An eight-member team of the Enforcement Directorate carried out raids on Thakur’s home in Chaibasa sub-division of the state’s West Singhbhum district.
The agency also carried out raids on the home of businessman Vendant Khirwal, who is considered an ally of Thakur.
According to sources, premises linked to IAS officer Manish Ranjan, a personal staffer of drinking water and sanitation minister Mithilesh Kumar Thakur, and some government officials, were also searched by the federal probe agency.
The money laundering case is linked to the investigation into alleged irregularities in the Jal Jeevan Mission.
The central government’s Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water through household tap connections.
Assembly elections are expected to be declared soon in the state.
Earlier, the federal probe agency also arrested former Jharkhand Minister and Congress MLA Alamgir Alam in connection with a money laundering case.
The ED also conducted raids on the premises of Alam’s house-help Sanjij Lal and recovered “unaccounted cash”, estimated to be Rs 34.23 crore.