Jharkhand: IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan suspended following arrest by ED under PMLA

After Chhavi Ranjan was detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged land scam, the Jharkhand government suspended him on Saturday.

Chhavi Ranjan, IAS, has been suspended following his arrest by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), according to a statement from the state government. He is currently serving as the Director of the Social Welfare Department in Jharkhand.

“In the light of being arrested under Section-19 of Anti Money Laundering by Government of India, Directorate of Enforcement, Ranchi Regional Office, Ranchi Act (PMLA), 2002, Chhavi Ranjan IAS, Director, Social Welfare, Jharkhand (Additional Charge – Director, Social Security, Jharkhand, Ranchi and State Disability Commissioner, Jharkhand, Ranchi) is suspended with immediate effect under Rule-3(3) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969”, the statement read.

Chhavi Ranjan IAS, who was detained earlier today in connection with an alleged land scam, was on Saturday given a 6-day detention order by the Enforcement Directorate in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
After a day of judicial custody, Ranchi’s Special PMLA court transferred the IAS officer to ED custody.

Chhavi Ranjan, an IAS officer, was detained by ED on Thursday in connection with an illegal land grab and sale in Ranchi case.

Chhavi Ranjan had previously been questioned by the ED on several occasions regarding alleged land scam cases.

In this regard, the ED had also carried out raids at various places, including his Ranchi home, in West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand. Sources claim that the IAS officer used the Kolkata registry office for forgery in the Army land case while he was the deputy commissioner of Ranchi.

In the ED’s land scam case, seven alleged suspects have thus far been taken into custody. They were presented in court and given a custody order.

He is accused of carrying out these frauds while serving as Ranchi’s deputy commissioner.
The ED claims that a network is at work in this case that allegedly sold numerous plots using forged paperwork.