https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

ED Uncovers Fresh Evidence in Peyjal Scam: IAS Manish Ranjan Under Scanner Again

During the investigation into the fraudulent withdrawal of ₹2.71 crore from the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has so far uncovered a total fraud amounting to ₹22,93,42,947.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Ranchi, Jharkhand: In a major escalation of the Peyjal (Drinking Water) scam investigation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has uncovered suspicious documents during a raid on the residence of 2002 IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, Mr Manish Ranjan, revealing deeper connections and financial irregularities linked to the high-profile corruption case.

Mr Ranjan served as the Secretary of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation from October 2022 to January 2024. During his tenure, an FIR was lodged at Sadar Police Station, Ranchi, on December 28, 2023, in connection with the fraudulent withdrawal of ₹2,71,62,833. Santosh Kumar, who was then serving as the cashier-cum-additional divisional clerk in the Swarnarekha Division of the department, was named as the accused in the case.

Coded Transactions, Corporate Links of Ranjan’s Wife Emerge

Among the key findings, ED officials recovered four pages of documents that detail suspicious financial transactions under the code name “SURAT.” Investigators believe this coded terminology could be linked to a series of covert payments. In a further twist, documents revealed that Ranjan’s wife is associated with two companies – serving as a director in one private firm and a legal manager in another.

Read Also: Transforming Lives: Meet IAS Dr. Manish Ranjan and His Jhar Jal Yojana, Winner of the National Award for e-Governance 2024

One of the companies identified is Sand Cube Infrastructure Private Limited, a Jharkhand-based firm incorporated in December 2017. ED sources are now probing whether these corporate connections were used to route or mask illicit financial transactions.

Recurring Name in Corruption Probes

This is not the first time Manish Ranjan’s name has cropped up in a corruption investigation. During an earlier probe into alleged irregularities in Rural Development Department tenders, Ranjan was allegedly referred to as “M” in a coded diary maintained by Sanjeev Lal, personal secretary to then-Minister Alamgir Alam. When questioned, Lal reportedly confirmed that “M” stood for Manish Ranjan, prompting the ED to issue a formal summons to the officer.

Peyjal Cashier Confirms Ranjan’s Share in Commission

In a significant development, a cashier from the Peyjal Department told investigators that Ranjan received a share of the alleged kickbacks being distributed among officials. Following this testimony, ED raided Ranjan’s home, seizing more documents related to covert financial operations. The IAS officer has since submitted a written defence to the Adjudicating Authority, claiming innocence and denying any wrongdoing.

Engineer Claims ₹5.53 Lakh in ‘Gifts’; ED Finds Gaps

The ED also raided the residence of engineer Niranjan Kumar, who is connected to the same investigation. Officials recovered ₹5.53 lakh in cash, which Niranjan and his wife claimed had been received as gifts from relatives over several years, invoking Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

However, investigators flagged the couple’s failure to provide credible documentation to back their claim. More critically, the ED found that the amount was not disclosed in their income tax returns, violating Indian tax laws and raising the possibility that the cash was unaccounted and linked to the broader scam.

Read Also: IAS Manish Ranjan Wins The ‘National Award for e-Governance’ For His Role In Establishing The JHAR-JAL Portal

Probe Widens as ED Connects the Dots

The fresh evidence has significantly widened the scope of the Peyjal scam probe. The ED is now focusing on:

  • Decoding the “SURAT” transactions and tracing the money trail.
  • Verifying the financial and legal roles of Ranjan’s wife in the flagged companies.
  • Cross-examining testimonies, including those from departmental insiders like the Peyjal cashier.
  • Investigating possible misuse of corporate entities to conceal illicit gains.

While Manish Ranjan maintains his innocence, the ED is tightening its net as the scam appears to implicate a growing number of high-level officials. The agency is expected to issue further summons and may initiate proceedings under the PMLA and Prevention of Corruption Act in the coming weeks.

The Peyjal scam, originally centered on alleged irregularities in drinking water infrastructure projects, has now evolved into one of the most wide-ranging corruption investigations in the state, involving senior bureaucrats, engineers, and corporate entities.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
mohan yadav
Madhya Pradesh CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Personally Visits Sailana Fields, Comforts Farmers Affected by Crop Damage
Manoj-Yadava ips
Who Is Manoj Yadava? Former Haryana DGP and Ex-RPF Chief Appointed Director General of HIPA Gurugram
Supreme Court resized
SC Collegium Recommends Three Judges for Chief Justice Posts in Patna, Meghalaya, and Manipur High Courts
Combined Commanders' Conference 2025 PM Modi
Buzz Builds Ahead of Combined Commanders' Conference 2025: PM Modi May Announce Major Defence Reforms
India launches capacity building programme
India Launches Special Capacity Building Programme for Mid-Career Civil Servants of Mauritius
supreme-court-4
Supreme Court Upholds FIR Registration Against Former CBI Joint Director Neeraj Kumar in 2000 Misconduct Case
Paramita Tripathi
IFS Paramita Tripathi Appointed India’s New Ambassador to Kuwait Amid Strengthening Bilateral Ties
coal-India-limited-scaled
Coal India Raises Ex-Gratia to ₹25 Lakh, Launches Uniform Policy and ₹1 Cr Insurance for Workers from Sept 17
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Shikha Goel
How Modern Forensics Helps Police Solve Crimes – IPS Officer Shikha Goel Explains | Video Interview
IPS Shikha Goel
Decoding Digital Dangers: Insights from IPS Shikha Goel on Cyber Crimes
IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo
Managing Elections, Communal Tensions, and Public Safety – Meet IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Ishwarlal Gurjar UPSC
10th Grade Failure to Indian Police Service: Ishwarlal Gurjar’s UPSC Success Path
Read the inspiring journey of Ishwarlal Gurjar from a small village in Rajasthan to becoming an IPS officer....
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
Social Media
IAS Medha Roopam
IAS Medha Roopam’s Inspiring Dedication in Flood-Hit Noida Goes Viral: Focuses on Relief, Education Amid Heavy Rains
Books in One Hand, Umbrella in Other: Noida DM Medha Roopam Leads Flood Relief from the Front
IAS Sakshi Sawhney Amritsar DC
Punjab Floods: IAS Sakshi Sawhney’s Emotional Appeal to Elderly Man Wins Hearts, Video of Humanity Goes Viral
Viral Video Captures Emotional Moment as Amritsar DC Shows Sensitivity and Courage Amid Relief Effor...
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
mohan yadav
Madhya Pradesh CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Personally Visits Sailana Fields, Comforts Farmers Affected by Crop Damage
Manoj-Yadava ips
Who Is Manoj Yadava? Former Haryana DGP and Ex-RPF Chief Appointed Director General of HIPA Gurugram
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Shikha Goel
IPS Shikha Goel
IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT