ED Raids Multiple Locations of Jharkhand IAS Officer in Money Laundering Probe

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a money laundering probe against IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan over some land deals in Ranchi in the past few years. The agency conducted raids at around two dozen locations, including his official residence, across different cities in connection with the case.

Land Fraud Case Under Scanner

The ED is investigating several deals, including the sale of land allegedly belonging to the Army in Ranchi, which is under the scanner. Chhavi Ranjan was the deputy commissioner of Ranchi when the deals were allegedly processed, between 15 July 2020 and 11 July 2022.

Second IAS Officer Under ED Scanner

Chhavi Ranjan is the second IAS officer from the Jharkhand cadre to come under the ED's scanner last year. Earlier, senior IAS officer Pooja Singhal was arrested on money laundering charges in connection with an alleged MNREGA scam. The ED has also questioned two other IAS officers in the past year.

Although the agency questioned Rajiv Arun Ekka, the Principal Secretary to chief minister Hemant Soren, in connection with an alleged video of Ekka singeing official files at the office of businessman Vishal Chaudhary, who is also under the ED scanner, no action has been taken against him.

In January this year, the ED also questioned IAS officer Ramniwas Yadav, current Sahebganj deputy commissioner, in connection with an illegal mining case.