THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, May 22: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today informed the Special (PMLA) court that Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam was not cooperating in its probe into the tender scam.
Seeking remand for eight more days, the ED stated new facts had emerged out of the seized materials/documents/ records which needed to be confronted with Alam.
Digital records voluminous
Producing Alam in the court, the ED stated that the digital records seized are voluminous and extraction of various digital devices is still in progress and it is a time-consuming process to corroborate the record with Alam.
It said various new facts have emerged during custodial interrogation of Sanjeev Lal and Jahangir Alam and those facts need to be confronted and corroborated with the minister.
“However, Alam is not cooperating with the investigation and still withholding crucial information regarding the source of funds i.e. proceeds of crime and is also evasive in their replies,” it said.
ED gets 5 days
The court, however, granted five days more to the ED to interrogate the minister under custody.
The agency said Alamgir Alam has concealed and is involved in the acquisition and transfer of the proceeds of crime.
“Further, Alamgir Alam has material evidence and information related to the offence of money laundering.
Also, documentary evidence seized from various premises shows the crucial role of the Alamgir Alam and scrutiny of digital devices shows the involvement of other persons as well. The said fact needs to be confronted with him,” the ED said.
Role of other alleged/suspected persons
The ED said that his custodial interrogation is necessary to ascertain the role of other alleged/suspected persons involved in the laundering of proceeds of crime.
His custodial interrogation is also necessary to identify the properties (immovable/ movable) acquired from proceeds of crime by him and his associates and also to investigate the role of other beneficiaries who acquired the proceeds of crime through the minister.
Background
Notably, the ED arrested Alam on May 13 and got his custody on May 15 for six days following recovery of Rs 37.5 crore, including Rs 32.2 crore from the flat of Jehangir Alam, a close aide of the minister’s private secretary Sanjeev Lal. The ED said that the amount of Rs 32.2 crore pertained to Alamgir Alam.
Role of Veerendra Kumar Ram
The case is linked to Veerendra Kumar Ram, who was arrested on February 23 last year. He was posted as Chief Engineer in the Rural Development Special Division and Rural Works Department, both under the Jharkhand Government. Ram used to collect commissions in terms of allocation of tender and execution of work and the said commission/ fixed share of 1.5% was distributed to Minister Alamgir Alam.
During the investigation, the ED found that the whole process of collection and distribution of commission was taken care of by the assistant engineers posted at Rural Development Special Division and Rural Works Department.
Later, the ED conducted raids at the premises of Sanjeev and Jehangir on May 6 and seized a huge amount of cash to the tune of Rs. 37.5 Crore, which includes the seizure of Rs. 32.2 from the premise of Jahangir Alam. At present, both are under judicial custody.
