Ranchi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday summoned Abhishek Jha husband of IAS Pooja Singhal for questioning in the money laundering case. The ED was originally investigating a scam in the MNREGA in the Khunti
district when she was posted there as deputy commissioner.
During the investigation, the ED carried out raids at the residence of Pooja Singhal, her husband, CA Suman Kumar Singh, and others. The ED had sent him the summons on Saturday night and directed him to appear before zonal headquarters in Ranchi for questioning.
Sources aware of the development said that the deputy director of the ED Subodh Kumar along with the two other senior officials of the agency and the IT department have questioned him. Sources said that Abhishek Jha asked to explain to the ED the total amount he spent on the construction of the Pulse Super Speciality Hospital in Ranchi.
The agency suspects that Abhishek Jha has concealed actual amounts spent in the construction of the hospital and that a huge slush amount was infused into this health infrastructure. The agency has procured relevant documents in this regard that suggest that he apparently did an under assessment of the cost of the construction of the hospital.
The ED asked whether his wife has any involvement in the management of the hospital, both directly or indirectly. The offices also confronted him with details of several companies with which he is directly or indirectly associated. These companies are suspected to be shell companies.
On Saturday, the ED arrested chartered accountant Suman Singh who is said to be the CA of Abhishek Jha. The ED recovered Rs 19.31 Crore cash from the residence of Suman Singh.