Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: Suspended IAS officer Pooja Singhal, her husband Abhishek Jha, and chartered accountant Suman Kumar Singh appeared before a special PMLA court in Ranchi on Tuesday in connection with the MNREGA scam case.
Court Appearance as Per Bail Condition
The trio complied with the court’s bail condition that mandated physical appearance on scheduled dates. The court had earlier granted them bail after lengthy incarceration, with a warning to remain present during all legal proceedings.
Pooja Singhal Was Granted Bail After 28 Months in Jail
Pooja Singhal, who was arrested in May 2022 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), was granted bail after spending 28 months in judicial custody. Her arrest followed nationwide raids that unearthed massive financial irregularities.
ED Seized Over Rs 19 Crore From CA’s Premises
During raids conducted in 2022, ED recovered Rs 19.31 crore in cash from the premises linked to CA Suman Kumar Singh, who allegedly managed Singhal’s illicit financial dealings. The stacks of currency recovered during the raid had drawn nationwide attention.
Case Was Initially Investigated by ACB
Prior to ED’s involvement, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had initiated action in the case, registering 16 FIRs related to the scam. Subsequently, the ED took over the investigation, widening its scope under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Seven Accused Named in the Case
Pooja Singhal is among seven accused individuals, which include bureaucrats and private individuals, involved in the embezzlement of funds meant for the rural employment scheme — MNREGA — during her tenure in various districts of Jharkhand.
