THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, April 18: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has provisionally attached four immovable properties having value of Rs 22.47 lakh belonging to Shashi Prakash and Jai Kishore Chaudhary (both Executive Engineers) in the MGNREGA scam of Jharkhand. This is the fourth Provisional Attachment Order issued in the said case.
Properties worth Rs. 106.86 crore seized so far
The total properties worth Rs. 106.86 crore, including this provisional order, have been attached/seized till date in the case.
The ED initiated an investigation based on 16 FIRs registered by the Jharkhand Police regarding the embezzlement of Rs 18 crore in MGNREGA work in Khunti. Further, a charge sheet filed by the Jharkhand Police revealed that Junior Engineer RBP Sinha, Assistant Engineer R.K. Jain (now deceased), Shashi Prakash, and Jai Kishore Chaudhary, both executive engineers, were involved in the combined embezzlement of Rs 18.06 crore.
ED conducted raids on May 6, 2022
Earlier, the ED had conducted several searches under provisions of PMLA on May 6, 2022, at the premises related to these engineers and also at the premises related to IAS officer Pooja Singhal, the then DC of Khunti district, during which huge cash of Rs 19.58 crore was recovered & seized.
A press release issued by the ED said three persons, Ram Binod Prasad Sinha, Pooja Singhal, and CA Suman Kumar, have been arrested in this case. Three prosecution complaints have already been filed against Ram Binod Prasad Sinha, Pooja Singhal, Abhishek Jha, Jai Kishore Chaudhary, R K Jain (deceased), Shashi Prakash, and CA Suman Kumar before the Special (PMLA) Court, Ranchi, where the trial is under progress.
