Bihar Corruption Crackdown: Officials Caught with Crores in Cash and Assets
In a sweeping anti-corruption drive across Bihar, vigilance agencies have uncovered a disturbing pattern of officials secretly amassing immense wealth by exploiting their positions of power. Over the past few weeks, multiple cases have emerged, revealing safes overflowing with cash and properties stretching across states, forcing investigators to use machines to count the seized currency.
Major Raids and Seizures
On March 18, the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) conducted coordinated raids at seven premises linked to Manoj Kumar Rajak, an executive engineer with the North Bihar Power Distribution Corporation Limited (NBPDCL), in Darbhanga, Supaul, and Madhubani districts. The action was taken in connection with a disproportionate assets case, where Rajak is accused of accumulating assets 62% higher than his known sources of income.
During the raids, officials recovered a trove of documents related to 31 plots of land, a fuel station, a gas agency, multiple bank accounts, houses, tea gardens, and properties extending from Darjeeling to Nepal. According to EOU officials, Rajak amassed over Rs50 crore through illegal means and has been taken into custody.
Additional High-Profile Cases
Earlier, on March 13, the Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) raided the Patna premises of Pankaj Kumar, Deputy General Manager (projects) at the Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Limited (BMSICL), in another disproportionate assets case. During the operation, Kumar allegedly attempted to discard evidence by throwing cash out of a window.
The SVU team recovered Rs32 lakh in cash from his home, along with diamonds, gold, and silver jewellery valued at approximately Rs1.31 crore. Several land documents were also seized from the location.
Bribery Incidents and Arrests
On March 2, Roshan Kumar, an assistant engineer and district education project officer in Bettiah, West Champaran, was arrested by the Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) while accepting a bribe of Rs5 lakh and a smartwatch. A subsequent search led to the recovery of Rs42.5 lakh in cash from his room.
In another incident on February 2, the VIB arrested Paramjay Kumar, an assistant director in the youth employment and skill development department in Patna, after catching him red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs5 lakh. Several bundles of currency notes were recovered from his car. Vigilance officials stated that he had demanded Rs10 lakh in exchange for clearing funds allocated under office expenses and machinery equipment heads of Industrial Training Institutes.
Additionally, on February 19, Aman Kumar, a junior engineer with Saheganj Nagar Parishad in Muzaffarpur district, was arrested by the SVU while accepting a bribe of Rs9,000 to process payment for a paver block installation project.
Pattern of Corruption Exposed
These cases highlight a systemic issue of corruption within Bihar's administrative and public service sectors, with officials leveraging their authority for personal gain. The use of advanced counting machines for seized cash underscores the scale of illicit wealth involved. Authorities continue to investigate these matters, aiming to curb such malpractices and restore integrity in governance.
