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Jharkhand Jailed Minister Alamgir Alam Resigns from State Cabinet

Jharkhand Minister Alamgir Alam, who is currently in jail in connection with a money laundering case, has resigned from the state cabinet and as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP).

In a letter from Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi to Chief Minister Champai Soren, Alam tendered his resignation as a cabinet minister.

Additionally, in a letter to AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Alam stated, “I hereby submit my resignation from the post of leader of Congress Legislature Party, Jharkhand. I shall remain grateful to the party leadership for providing me an opportunity to work and serve as CLP leader.”

The Arrests

On May 15, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrested the Congress leader in a money laundering case, following the seizure of approximately Rs 32 crore cash from premises linked to his aide. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state had demanded Alam’s removal from the Champai Soren cabinet last week.

Previously, the chief minister had taken charge of all four portfolios held by Alamgir Alam: Parliamentary Affairs, Rural Development, Rural Works, and Panchayati Raj.

The 70-year-old MLA from Pakur was taken into custody at the central agency’s zonal office last month under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).