Jharkhand: Suspended IAS officer Pooja Singhal's ED custody extended by 5 days

Suspended IAS officer Singhal was arrested by the probe agency on May 12 in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged embezzlement of MGNREGA funds in Khunti district of Jharkhand.

Published on: May 20, 2022, 15:27:19 IST

By HT News Desk | Written by Aryan Prakash

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A local court on Friday extended the Enforcement Directorate custody of suspended IAS officer Pooja Singhal by five more days, news agency ANI reported.

“Suman Kumar & Pooja Singhal were produced before court today. ED urged that Suman Kumar be sent to judicial custody, court accepted it & sent him to jail. ED sought the remand of Pooja Singhal for 6 more days, court sent her to a 5-day ED remand,” ED lawyer BMP Singh said.

The court on May 16 had sent the IAS officer and her chartered accountant Suman Kumar to four day ED custody.

Singhal was arrested by the probe agency on May 12 in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged embezzlement of MGNREGA funds in Khunti district of Jharkhand. She was arrested following raids by the ED across several locations in four states. The agency had reportedly recovered ₹17 crore from the residence of her chartered accountant Suman Kumar.

Suspended IAS officer Pooja Singhal was arrested on May 12.

The ED is investigating a money laundering case in which a former junior engineer of the Jharkhand government was arrested two years ago. Ram Binod Prasad Sinha was booked under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on the FIRs registered by the state government.

It is alleged that the funds earmarked for the completion of government projects under MGNREGA was embezzled. Singhal had served as the deputy commissioner of Khunti between 2009 and 2010. News agency PTI quoted the arrested engineer who claimed to have paid five per cent commission out of the embezzled funds to the Khunti district administration.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Home/Cities/Ranchi News/Jharkhand: Suspended IAS Officer Pooja Singhal's ED Custody Extended By 5 Days