The Bihar government on Saturday suspended two IAS officers in connection with the tender scam case, an official confirmed. The officers are Yogesh Kumar Sagar of the 2017 batch and Abhilasha Kumari Sharma of the 2014 batch. This action came three days after the Bihar Police's Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) conducted a raid on the Patna premises of contractor Rishu Shree on May 27. Rishu was arrested on Thursday and produced before the Special Vigilance Court, which remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody at Beur Central Jail.
Modus Operandi Revealed
As investigators from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Bihar's SVU compared findings, a clear picture emerged of how Rishu allegedly operated. A Patna-based contractor, he allegedly managed transfers and postings of senior officers to control tenders. Instead of relying solely on cash, he built influence by funding high-end lifestyles for cooperative officers, securing loyalty through expensive favors.
Luxury Trip to Europe
The ED investigation revealed that Rishu took IAS officer Yogesh Kumar Sagar and eight relatives on a Europe trip from June 22, 2024, to June 30, 2024. The group visited Vienna, Salzburg, and Wolfgang in Austria, staying in luxury hotels. The total expenditure on air travel and hotel stays was Rs 22 lakh, and investigators confirmed that Rishu paid the entire amount.
Renovation and Gifts
Investigators also alleged that Rishu financed the luxury renovation of a rooftop garden at the residence of Abhilasha Kumari Sharma at a cost of Rs 9 lakh. Additionally, he gifted premium consumer electronics to the officer and paid for trips undertaken by her relatives to Goa, Delhi, and Hyderabad. The case file also mentioned iPhones and other expensive gifts allegedly given to her.
Scrutiny and Allegations
A senior IPS officer stated that both IAS officers were under intense scrutiny for allegedly accepting illegal gratification and high-value favors from the contractor. Rishu was accused of manipulating government tenders and exerting undue influence over official decisions during the officers' tenures linked to the urban development and housing department and the Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (Buidco). Yogesh Kumar Sagar served as managing director of Buidco from March 7, 2024, to February 17, 2025. Abhilasha Kumari Sharma did not serve directly in Buidco but exercised administrative authority over it through her concurrent posting as joint secretary in the urban development and housing department, Buidco's parent department.
Collusion and Commission Network
According to agencies, Rishu colluded with senior department officials to insert highly specific eligibility clauses into tender drafts, disqualifying standard competitors and steering contracts toward his firm or associates. He allegedly ran a fixed commission network, charging 8% to 10% of contract value as "speed money," with a significant portion distributed as bribes for swift clearances and inflated billing.
Earlier Raids and Recovery
The case also carried the shadow of an earlier ED raid on March 27 last year, when Rs 12 crore in cash was recovered from the residences of senior engineers and bureaucrats, including chief engineer Tarini Das. The ED stated that the money represented kickbacks and bribe shares paid by Rishu to clear pending bills and secure lucrative tenders.
