Jharkhand IAS Officer Pooja Singhal's Suspension Reinstated Amid Money Laundering Allegations

Synopsis

The Jharkhand government has reinstated IAS officer Pooja Singhal, who was previously suspended due to allegations of money laundering related to the MGNREGA scam. A committee recommended her reinstatement after she was granted bail following 28 months in jail.

Key Takeaways

Pooja Singhal has had her suspension lifted.
She was involved in an alleged money laundering case.
Singhal spent 28 months in jail before being granted bail.
The Enforcement Directorate recovered substantial cash during raids.
She has held multiple significant positions in the Jharkhand government.

New Delhi, Jan 22 (NationPress) The government of Jharkhand has reinstated IAS officer Pooja Singhal, who has been implicated in an alleged money laundering case. An official order was issued by the Department of Personnel, Administrative Reforms, and Official Language, instructing her to return to her duties.

Recently, a committee led by the Chief Secretary advocated for her reinstatement.

Pooja Singhal is entangled in an alleged money laundering case associated with the MGNREGA scam in the Khunti district. She was granted bail in September 2024 by a PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court after spending nearly 28 months in incarceration.

Her release was granted under a provision of the Indian Penal Code that permits bail for individuals who have served over one-third of the maximum sentence for the alleged offense. The court imposed conditions for her bail, requiring the deposition of two sureties of Rs 2 lakh each and the surrender of her passport.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) apprehended Singhal on May 11, 2022, following raids at her residence and other locations. During these operations, the ED discovered approximately Rs 20 crore in cash at the residence of her husband’s chartered accountant, Suman Kumar.

Subsequent to her arrest, the Jharkhand government suspended her from service. Prior to her suspension, she held significant positions including Industry Secretary and Mining Secretary, and served as the Chairperson of the Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation.

Previously, she was the Agriculture Secretary under the BJP-led administration and was the Deputy Commissioner of Khunti during the time when the MGNREGA scam reportedly occurred.

Pooja Singhal, hailing from Dehradun, boasts an impressive academic record. She performed exceptionally well throughout her schooling and higher education, graduating from Garhwal University. In her first attempt, she cleared the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination in 1999 at the age of 21, becoming an IAS officer.

Her career, which includes several distinguished roles, took a dramatic turn with the emergence of allegations regarding financial misconduct in Khunti’s MGNREGA program. The suspension and ensuing investigation were triggered by the revelation of substantial cash amounts linked to her and her associates, attracting the attention of central agencies.