Pooja Singhal, an IAS in Ranchi, Jharkhand, owns immovable properties worth Rs. 82.77 crores that the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has temporarily attached. The properties consist of two land parcels in Ranchi, one super speciality hospital called “Pulse Super Speciality Hospital,” one diagnostic facility called “Pulse Diagnostic and Imagining Center,” and other properties.
On the basis of many FIRs filed by the Jharkhand Police & Vigilance Bureau Jharkhand, ED opened a money laundering inquiry. According to the investigation, Pooja Singhal and her family members had commissions from the MNREGA Scam placed in a number of their bank accounts. The aforementioned POC was combined and piled with the other unexplained funds that Pooja Singhal earned by abusing her position of authority. POC was first produced from the MNREGA fraud alone, but it was then mingled with other unaccounted cash from Pooja Singhal’s unethical activities. These funds were then used as capital or investments, and more money was produced from them as both legitimate profit and by more infusions of POC.
By using this modus-operandi, Pooja Singhal accumulated an enormous fortune that was out of proportion to her recognised source of income. The money used to invest in these real estate holdings was mostly made up of unreported cash gains from this POC, which is why it is referred to as proceeds of crime. Pooja Singhal was detained by the ED on May 11th, and on July 5th, a prosecution complaint was made against her. According to section 66 (2) of the PMLA, the pieces of information regarding the aforementioned corrupt practise having already been provided to the Government of Jharkhand so that they can consider taking legal action against Pooja Singhal and others in accordance with the Prevention of Corruption Act.
In this instance, Pooja Singhal is now being held in judicial custody along with the other two arrested individuals. The Hon’ble Special PMLA Court has taken note of all three of the prosecution complaints that have been filed in this matter. More research is being done.
