A special PMLA court in Ranchi granted bail to suspended Jharkhand cadre IAS officer Ms. Pooja Singhal in a money laundering case on Saturday. She was released on the condition of furnishing two bonds of Rs. 2 lakh each and depositing her passport. The decision came after a two-day hearing of her bail petition.
Ms. Singhal, a 2000-batch Jharkhand cadre IAS officer, has been in custody since May 11th, 2022, following Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on properties linked to her. The case pertains to alleged corruption in the implementation of MGNREGA, the central rural employment scheme. The ED has accused her of money laundering and seized over Rs. 36 crore in cash, reportedly linked to illegal mining activities.
The Supreme Court had earlier granted Ms. Singhal interim bail on February 10th, 2023, to care for her ailing daughter. Properties linked to her businessman husband, a chartered accountant, and other associates were also raided during the investigation. Following her arrest, Ms. Singhal was suspended from service.
