ED Raids Target Officials in Jharkhand Water Scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted raids at 20 locations in Jharkhand, focusing on individuals connected to state Minister Mithilesh Thakur amid allegations of corruption in the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide safe drinking water to households. Key targets of the operation include IAS officer Manish Ranjan, Thakur's personal secretary Harendra Singh, and several contractors and businessmen involved in the mission's implementation. The raids, which took place in Ranchi and Chaibasa, are part of a broader investigation into a multi-crore scam involving significant discrepancies in the program. Security forces were deployed during the operations, which resulted in the seizure of various documents and electronic devices. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raised concerns about the irregularities, emphasizing the need for accountability as assembly elections approach. This investigation follows previous ED actions linked to a money laundering case involving a land scam and reflects ongoing scrutiny of government schemes in the region.