Alam appears before ED in cash seizure case

Ranchi: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday questioned minister of rural development, Alamgir Alam, for over eight hours in connection with an alleged corruption in rural works department and money laundering case.
The ED had issued summons to Alam in the case. The minister carrying some documents arrived at the ED’s regional office at Hinoo at around 10:40 am and emerged out at around at 8:30 pm.Sources said that ED recorded preliminary statement of the minister in the case. The minister has been summoned again on Wednesday. Speaking to media persons he said, “The ED had given me just one day to appear. I have brought whatever documents possible. I respect the law and would cooperate in the investigation.”
ED had seized over Rs 37 crore during operations carried out in several places of Ranchi last week. A sum of Rs 32 crore was recovered from a flat of Jehangir Alam, the help of the minister’s personal secretary Sanjeev Lal. The ED had arrested both Sanjeev and Jehangir after the recoveries. They are presently being interrogated by the central agency under remand.
Sanjeev’s wife Rita Lal also came to the ED office with some documents on Tuesday. She remained there till 6:30 pm.