Bihar EOU raids 5 locations in DA case against Siwan excise inspector
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police on Thursday, 9 July conducted simultaneous searches at five locations across three districts in connection with a disproportionate assets case against Ankesh Kumar Gond, an Excise Inspector posted in Siwan. The raids, carried out after search warrants were obtained from the Special Vigilance Court, Patna, are part of the EOU's continuing anti-corruption drive targeting public servants accused of holding assets beyond their declared income.
What Triggered the Raids
According to the EOU, a preliminary verification based on inputs from reliable sources found prima facie evidence that Ankesh Kumar Gond had accumulated assets disproportionate to his known income. The agency subsequently registered FIR No. 13/26, dated 8 July, under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. The preliminary investigation reportedly pegged the excess assets at approximately ₹2.36 crore — estimated to be 201.97 per cent higher than his legitimate income.
Locations Searched
EOU teams, led by officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), fanned out across Patna, Munger, and Siwan. The five premises covered were: a residence at Sultanpur under Danapur police station in Patna; an ancestral house at Chandanbagh under Kasim Bazar police station in Munger; a commercial building at Lallupokhar in Munger; the Excise Department office chamber in Siwan; and a rented residence behind the Chitragupt Nagar Registry Office in Siwan town.
What Investigators Examined
During the searches, officials scrutinised property documents, bank account records, investment papers, and documents relating to both movable and immovable assets. The EOU stated that teams are also cross-verifying financial transaction records as part of the broader investigation. A detailed inventory of all documents and materials recovered will be released once the operation concludes, according to officials.
Broader Anti-Corruption Context
The action against Gond is part of the EOU's sustained campaign against public servants in Bihar allegedly living beyond their means. Notably, cases registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act carry serious penal consequences, including imprisonment of up to seven years. This is the latest in a series of DA cases the EOU has pursued against state government employees in recent months, reflecting intensified vigilance activity in the state.