ED attaches IAS Pooja Singhal’s properties worth Rs 82.7 crore, including hospital & diagnostic centre

New Delhi: Months after the arrest ofJharkhand IAS officer Pooja Singhal, the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday attached immovable properties of the suspended bureaucrat. The properties, amounting to the tune of Rs 82.77 crore, includes a Super Speciality Hospital namely ‘Pulse Super Speciality Hospital’, a diagnostics centre namely ‘Pulse Diagnostic and Imagining Centre’ and also 2 land parcels, situated in Ranchi.

The probe agency had initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by Jharkhand Police & Vigilance Bureau Jharkhand. Investigation revealed that Proceeds of Crime generated from the MNREGA Scam in form of commission was deposited in different bank accounts belonging to Pooja Singhal & her relatives.

The said POC was mixed and layered with the other unaccounted money generated by Pooja Singhal, by misusing her official position. Initially POC was generated from MNREGA scam only, which was subsequently intermixed with other unaccounted fund generated from the corrupt practices of Pooja Singhal and these funds were deployed as capital/investment & further funds were generated from these funds, both as legitimate profit as well as by further infusion of POC.

By this modus-operandai, Pooja Singhal amassed huge wealth disproportionate to her known source of income and source of funds invested in these immovable properties were primarily from the unaccounted cash profits generated from these POC and therefore termed as Proceeds of Crime. Pooja Singhal was arrested by ED on 11.05.22 and Prosecution Complaint was filed against her on 05.07.22. The evidences about the above corrupt practice have already been shared with the Government of Jharkhand under section 66 (2) of PMLA for considering taking action under Prevention of Corruption Act against Pooja Singhal & others.

In this case, all three arrested persons including Pooja Singhal are presently in judicial custody. Three Prosecution complaint has been filed in this case and cognizance of all of these complaints have been taken by the Hon’ble Special PMLA Court.