Bihar Vigilance Unit Conducts Major Raids in Sheohar Disproportionate Assets Case
The Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) of the Bihar Police executed coordinated raids on Tuesday at multiple locations associated with Brijesh Kumar, the Deputy Development Commissioner-cum-Chief Executive Officer of Zila Parishad in Sheohar. This action is part of an ongoing investigation into a significant disproportionate assets case that has uncovered illicit wealth amounting to Rs 1.84 crore.
Case Registration and Raid Execution
According to Additional Director General of Police (SVU) Pankaj Kumar Darad, a formal case was registered against Kumar at the SVU police station on March 23. "Following the registration of the FIR, raids were conducted on Tuesday based on a search warrant issued by the special court (vigilance) in Patna," Darad stated. The SVU teams, under the leadership of DSP Ashok Kumar Jha, targeted four key locations:
- Kumar's government office on the ground floor of the district collectorate in Sheohar
- His official residence near Kisan Maidan Sub-divisional Ground in Sheohar
- His ancestral village house in West Champaran (Bettiah)
- The residence of his father-in-law, ERB Ram, a retired executive engineer, at Pratap Nagar in Sitamarhi
Uncovering Disproportionate Wealth
Preliminary investigations have revealed that Kumar accumulated Rs 1.84 crore in illegal and illegitimate assets during his government service, a sum that is significantly disproportionate to his known sources of income. Kumar, a Bihar Administrative Service officer, has held several key positions including senior deputy collector in Nalanda, sub-divisional officer in Chakia (Motihari), and SDO in Muzaffarpur (West). He is currently posted in Sheohar, where he oversees the implementation, monitoring, and coordination of rural development programs, Panchayati Raj institutions, and various welfare schemes.
During the raids, Kumar was present at his official residence in Sheohar, where SVU teams meticulously examined documents, files, and other materials. Investigators recovered evidence of vast wealth that reportedly exceeds the initial allegations mentioned in the FIR. Several documents related to immovable properties registered in the names of the accused and his wife were seized.
Details of Seized Assets and Properties
The investigation uncovered that Kumar's wife, Geetanjali Kumari, a homemaker, owns four immovable properties in Danapur, Patna, with a total value of Rs 2.26 crore. All these properties were purchased during 2022–23 when Kumar was serving as SDO in Muzaffarpur (West). The assets include three commercial shops in Saguna More, all registered in his wife's name.
During interrogation, Kumar allegedly admitted that all three commercial shops actually belong to him. Additionally, investigators discovered that he has invested Rs 21 lakh in various banks and financial institutions. A land gift worth Rs 31 lakh from a relative in Shikarpur, Narkatiaganj, was also identified during the searches.
Ongoing Investigation and Future Steps
An official involved in the case indicated that "further investigation is underway into possible benami properties and assets purchased in the names of relatives." The raids are still ongoing, with the SVU team continuing to scrutinize all recovered documents, bank records, and other evidence. This case highlights the vigilance unit's commitment to tackling corruption and ensuring accountability among public officials in Bihar.
