Jharkhand: ED attaches Hospital, Diagnostic centre, 2 Ranchi Plots of suspended IAS Pooja Singhal

Ranchi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached a Pulse super speciality hospital, a diagnostic centre, and two land parcels worth Rs 82.77 crore "belonging" to jailed Jharkhand IAS officer Pooja Singhal under the anti-money laundering law.

The federal agency has issued a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

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The frozen properties include the Pulse super speciality hospital, a Pulse Diagnostic and imagining centre in the same name, and two land parcels located in Ranchi, it said.

ED had initiated a money laundering investigation on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by Jharkhand Police and Vigilance Bureau Jharkhand.

Singhal, a 2000-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on May 11 on money laundering charges linked to an alleged irregularities in the MGNREGA scheme.

Investigation revealed that Proceeds of Crime (POC) generated from the MNREGA scam in form of the commission were deposited in different bank accounts belonging to Pooja Singhal and her relatives. They said POC was mixed and layered with the other unaccounted money generated by Pooja Singhal, by misusing her official position.

Initially, POC was generated from the MNREGA scam only, which was subsequently intermixed with other unaccounted funds generated from the corrupt practices of Pooja Singhal and these funds were deployed as capital/investment & further funds were generated from these funds, both as legitimate profit as well as by further infusion of POC.

The agency raided her premises and which were linked to her businessman husband and a chartered accountant.

She was later suspended by the state government. The officer is currently lodged in jail under judicial custody.

"The evidences about the corrupt practice have already been shared with the government of Jharkhand under section 66 (2) of PMLA for considering taking action under Prevention of Corruption Act against Pooja Singhal and others," the agency said.

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