Jharkhand IAS officer Pooja Singhal, who was jailed for two years on money laundering charges, has been reinstated in service. Singhal was suspended in May 2022 following her arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged embezzlement of MGNREGA funds in Khunti district and other financial irregularities.
The ED investigation revealed discrepancies in MGNREGA accounts during Singhal’s tenure as deputy commissioner in various districts between 2007 and 2013. Raids conducted across multiple states led to the recovery of Rs 18 crore in cash from a chartered accountant linked to Singhal.
Singhal and her husband, Abhishek Jha, were questioned extensively by the ED. The investigation stemmed from a 2012 state vigilance bureau FIR against former junior engineer Ram Binod Prasad Sinha.
Singhal was granted bail on December 7, 2024. Following a review by the Suspension Review Committee, the Department of Personnel, Administrative Reforms and Raj Bhasa issued a notification reinstating her with effect from the same date.
Singhal will now be assigned duties within the Department of Personnel, Administrative Reforms and Raj Bhasa.
Key Changes:
- Concise and direct language: The rewritten version uses shorter sentences and avoids unnecessary jargon.
- Focus on key events: The article highlights the main points: suspension, arrest, investigation, bail, and reinstatement.
- Clearer chronological order: The events are presented in a more logical sequence.
- Neutral tone: The article maintains a neutral and objective tone, avoiding any bias or speculation.
This revised version provides a concise and informative summary of the events surrounding Pooja Singhal’s suspension and reinstatement.
