THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Ranchi, April 21: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet against Pramod Singh and two of his family members in connection with a ₹9.39 crore money laundering case linked to the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam in Dhanbad. The chargesheet names Pramod’s wife, Priya Singh, and father, Aditya Narayan Singh, as co-accused.
According to the ED, the funds—originally allocated for critical health programs such as the Pulse Polio campaign, training sessions, and honorariums—were diverted and used for personal gains by the accused. The offences are punishable under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
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Accused Held Dual Control Over NRHM Funds
Pramod Singh, a Block Accounts Manager in the Jharia and Jorapokhar blocks of Dhanbad, was drawing a salary of ₹17,000 per month. He had joint signatory powers on the NRHM bank account along with then Medical Officer Shashi Bhushan Prasad (now deceased). The duo allegedly conspired to siphon off ₹9.39 crore from the government health fund.
The chargesheet reveals that Pramod transferred ₹3.95 crore into his own accounts in State Bank and Punjab National Bank. Another ₹10 lakh was routed to his wife Priya Singh’s account via cheque.
Funds Used to Purchase Land, Properties in Family’s Name
The money transferred to Priya Singh was later routed to the account of M/s Sahayogi Properties Private Limited and used to buy land in Sahayogi Nagar. During questioning, both Pramod and Priya claimed the funds came from Priya’s mother. However, they failed to present any proof supporting this statement.
ED investigators found that Pramod used the misappropriated funds to acquire properties in the names of his wife, father, and mother. To conceal the transactions, he used the bank accounts and ATM cards of close aides—Ashwini Kumar Sharma, Vijay Kumar Singh, and Arun Kumar Singh.
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Over ₹4.45 Crore Used for Personal Gains
Of the total laundered amount, ₹4.45 crore was used by Pramod Singh. He reportedly spent ₹1.63 crore on purchasing immovable assets. A separate ₹18.66 lakh was deposited into Priya Singh’s account from NRHM funds linked to Jharia and Jorapokhar blocks.
Priya Singh told investigators that she had borrowed ₹30 lakh in cash from her mother to buy property. However, she could not substantiate her claim with documentation.
Father and Mother Also Beneficiaries of Laundered Money
Pramod’s father, Aditya Narayan Singh, had ₹15.17 lakh deposited in cash into his bank account. He was unable to clarify the origin of the funds. In his defence, Aditya claimed the money came from matured recurring and fixed deposits at a local post office in Katrasgarh. However, the ED’s investigation found discrepancies in the account details provided.
Further scrutiny revealed that Aditya Narayan Singh used ₹1.42 crore of the laundered money to purchase property in the name of his wife, Ramapati Devi.
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ED Continues Probe, More Action Likely
The ED has emphasized that the case involves the illegal diversion of public health funds for personal enrichment and the purchase of assets under the guise of family-owned wealth. Investigations are ongoing, and further actions under PMLA may follow based on emerging evidence.
