ED summons ex-principal secretary to Jharkhand CM in money laundering case

NewsBharati 15-Mar-2023 10:40:22 AM

Total Views | 123

Ranchi, Mar 15: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Rajiv Arun Ekka, the former principal secretary to Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday in connection with the money laundering case linked to suspended IAS officer Pooja Singhal.

Reports suggest that Ekka, now secretary in the panchayati raj department will be questioned on the alleged irregularities in MGNREGA scheme linked to the case.

It should be noted that Ekka was in controversy for allegedly signing official documents at a private place. He was removed from the post following BJP's allegation of his conniving with middlemen.

The ED is probing Singhal's role in alleged irregularities in the mining sector of the state too as part of a second case filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) along with the alleged MNREGA scam.

Also Read: Jharkhand govt exposed! CM Soren’s principal secretary removed from charges soon after BJP's allegations

Meanwhile, Jharkhand government on Monday set up an inquiry commission to probe the allegations against Ekka. This followed BJP leader Babulal Marandi's letter to the state chief secretary Sukhdev Singh on Monday seeking thorough probe into the alleged involvement of a power broker besides an engineer in the Police Building Construction Corporation, action against Ekka and departmental engineers.

He also provided alleged copies of letters by Ekka and the engineer and claimed that they showed "a deep rooted nexus". He also demanded the filing of an FIR against the officers involved. Marandi, a former chief minister of the state, also alleged that an engineer of the Police Building Construction Corporation was re-appointed on contract after retirement without any advertisement for the post.