Jharkhand MNREGA Scam: SC Grants Protection from Arrest to Pooja Singhal’s Husband

The Supreme Court has recently granted protection from arrest to Abhishek Jha, the husband of Pooja Singhal, a suspended IAS officer from the Jharkhand cadre.

The protection comes in relation to a money laundering case connected to the alleged MNREGA scam in the state.

The decision was made after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sought relief for Jha so that he could attend to his daughter’s medical requirements. Pooja Singhal, a 2000-batch IAS officer, is the primary accused in the alleged scam involving the misappropriation of public funds amounting to Rs 18.07 crore during her tenure as the deputy commissioner of Khunti district.

A bench comprising Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia observed that Singhal, who was previously released due to her daughter’s medical needs, is already in custody.

“Since the petitioner’s husband was available to look after the medical needs of the child, this court, for the time being, asked the wife to surrender and she has surrendered,” the bench stated.

“ASG (additional solicitor general appearing for the ED) fairly submits that in view of the custody of the wife, in order to look after the medical needs of the daughter who requires medical attention, the petitioner (Jha) may be protected against arrest, more so, as he is also running a speciality hospital. We take the aforesaid statement on record and dispose of the petition,” the bench noted.

The Apex Court passed the order while considering Abhishek Jha’s petition challenging the May 18 decision of the Jharkhand High Court that denied him anticipatory bail in the case.

The bench stated that Jha should appear before the court where the complaint was filed. The plea was disposed of by the court. Earlier, on June 23, Jha’s plea was heard by a vacation bench of the Supreme Court, which declined to grant him anticipatory bail and scheduled the matter for further hearing on July 5. On May 18, the high court had rejected his anticipatory bail plea and directed him to surrender before the court within four weeks.

“As held by the Supreme Court, in offences under PMLA rigors of Section 45, will apply. Considering the magnitude of crime involving proceeds of crime to the tune of crores with evidence of it being carefully layered and laundered through investments, materials on record, risk of flight and for the plea taken on behalf of the ED, I do not find this a case fit for grant of anticipatory bail,” Justice Gautam Kumar Chaudhary stated while rejecting his bail application.

The prosecution alleges that Abhishek Jha’s financial situation improved significantly after his marriage to Pooja Singhal.

They claim that the money in his bank accounts is the result of corrupt practices by Singhal during her tenure as an IAS officer. Jha, on the other hand, asserts that the money is his legitimate income from his job in Australia.

The high court took note of their marriage in June 2011. Singhal, a high-profile IAS officer, served as the deputy commissioner of Khunti district from February 16, 2009, to July 19, 2010.

The high court order stated that a significant embezzlement of public funds was uncovered in Khunti district, where Pooja Singhal served as the deputy commissioner. Sixteen FIRs were registered, and the total amount of alleged embezzlement was Rs 18.06 crore. Charge sheets were filed against individuals including Ram Binod Prasad Sinha and RK Jain in all the FIRs.

The investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) revealed multiple layers of money laundering and resulted in the attachment of properties valued at Rs 4.28 crore, including the interest accrued on these properties.

Search and seizure operations were conducted at approximately 30 premises connected to Singhal and her associates in various cities, leading to the seizure of Rs 19.76 crore in cash, as well as incriminating documents and digital devices.

The main case against Singhal involves her alleged collusion with engineers from the special division and the district board during her tenure as the deputy commissioner, resulting in the embezzlement of Rs 18.06 crore. Singhal’s chartered accountant, Suman Kumar, stated that he made investments on behalf of Singhal. It is alleged that Singhal and her husband established Pulse Sanjeevani Hospital in Ranchi to launder their illicitly obtained wealth. Jha claimed in his statement, made under section 50 of the PMLA, that the funds invested in Pulse Sanjeevani Healthcare Pvt Ltd were derived from his savings from his job in Australia and gifts received during their wedding ceremonies.