January 22, 2025: The suspension of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Pooja Singhal, who had been in jail for over two years in connection with a money laundering case, was revoked following her release on bail, according to an official announcement from the Jharkhand government.

Singhal, who was suspended on May 12, 2022, shortly after her arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), was reinstated as part of a decision based on the recommendations of the Suspension Review Committee. The Committee, after careful consideration, advised the revocation of her suspension with effect from December 7, 2024, the date she was granted bail by a special court.

The case involves allegations of corruption linked to the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a flagship scheme of the Indian government aimed at providing rural employment. Singhal, who served as the secretary of the state Mines Department at the time of her arrest, faced accusations from the ED regarding her involvement in money laundering activities.

The notification issued by the Department of Personnel, Administrative Reforms, and Raj Bhasa stated that Singhal would now contribute to the Department following her reinstatement, signaling a return to her duties after over two years of suspension.

Singhal's legal proceedings and eventual release on bail have brought her back into the fold of administrative services, though the money laundering case continues to unfold.