ED's Raids on Bihar Officials Uncover ₹11.64 Crore and Bribery Scheme
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Synopsis
The Enforcement Directorate's recent raids in Bihar have uncovered ₹11.64 crore in cash and a bribery scheme among government officials. Multiple high-ranking officials are now under investigation as the ED continues its work to expose corruption.
Key Takeaways
- The ED recovered ₹11.64 crore in cash during raids.
- A bribe-for-bill-clearance racket has been revealed.
- Senior IAS officer Sanjeev Hans is a key figure in the investigation.
- Multiple high-ranking officials are facing scrutiny.
- Ongoing investigations may lead to further arrests.
Patna, March 28 (NationPress) In a significant action against corruption within Bihar's governmental framework, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at seven sites throughout the state related to a money laundering investigation and confiscated ₹11.64 crore in cash. This operation also revealed a bribe-for-bill-clearance scheme functioning within the state's governmental departments.
The raids, linked to senior IAS officer Sanjeev Hans, have sent shockwaves through Bihar’s bureaucracy, putting numerous high-ranking officials under scrutiny.
During the ED's investigation into Sanjeev Hans, other prominent officials' names surfaced.
The searches targeted the residences of several senior officials, including Tarini Das — Chief Engineer, Building Construction Department; Mumuksh Chaudhary — Joint Secretary, Finance Department; Umesh Kumar Singh — Executive Engineer, Urban Development Department; Riyaz Ahmed — Deputy Project Director, Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development; Sagar Jaiswal and Vikas Jha — DGMs, BMSICL; and Saket Kumar — Executive Engineer, Building Construction Department on Thursday.
According to ED sources, ₹11.64 crore in cash was recovered from the residences of various officials.
In addition to cash, the raiding teams seized land-related documents and other digital evidence.
These officials are accused of accepting substantial bribes to favor specific contractors in government tenders.
Bribes were also allegedly accepted to expedite payments for multiple contractors, including a contractor from Patna, Rishu Shri.
Investigations suggest the presence of a bribe-for-bill-clearance racket within the Bihar government’s departments.
Sanjeev Hans, a 1997-batch IAS officer currently facing charges related to disproportionate assets and an alleged rape case, is serving a prison sentence in Patna’s Beur jail.
Hans has emerged as a pivotal figure in this case.
Originally from Punjab, he held the rank of Divisional Commissioner in Bihar and has served as a District Magistrate in several locations.
This high-profile operation has caused a significant stir in Bihar's administrative circles.
The ongoing investigation aims to reveal more about the money trail and other potential beneficiaries.
The ED continues to trace the origins of the seized funds, with further arrests or actions likely.
