The Enforcement Directorate (ED) lodged its fifth supplementary charge sheet in the Jharkhand Rural Works Department (RWD) money laundering case in Ranchi. This action, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Sections 44 and 45, was initiated by the Ranchi Zonal Office on March 17. The charge sheet adds 14 engineers and officials from various departments as new accused, bringing the total accused count to 36 across all charge sheets.
The case originated from an FIR by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jamshedpur, under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018. The ED’s investigation uncovered a structured bribery network within the RWD, RDSZ, and JSRRDA. This network involved collecting a fixed commission from contractors, estimated at around 3% of the total tender value, in exchange for contract awards.
The ED detailed that this commission was distributed through a hierarchy, with portions allegedly reaching different officials. The total tender allocations amounted to approximately Rs 3,048 crore, with the proceeds of crime exceeding Rs 90 crore. The newly accused individuals include retired Chief Engineers, Executive Engineers, Assistant Engineers, and other officials, all allegedly involved in the illicit commission transfer.
The ED’s probe revealed the active involvement of these individuals in collecting, aggregating, and transferring illicit commission amounts, considered proceeds of crime under the PMLA. The agency has conducted multiple searches, made arrests, and issued provisional attachment orders, attaching assets worth about Rs 44 crore. Cash seizures, including luxury vehicles, have also been made in connection with the case.
