Patna: Bihar’s Economic Offences Unit (EOU) and Vigilance Investigation Bureau carried out five separate searches in September in connection with disproportionate-assets cases involving six government officials. The investigations covered alleged assets beyond known sources of income, with agencies examining property records, bank accounts, investments, vehicles and jewellery.
The five cases together involve alleged disproportionate assets of around ₹9.38 crore, based on preliminary figures cited in the respective investigations. The searches also led to the recovery or identification of cash, property documents and other financial records.
The figures represent allegations and preliminary findings in ongoing investigations and should not be treated as convictions or final findings of guilt.
Five Cases, Six Officials Under Probe
The September cases involved:
- Anand Kumar Vibhuti, BDO, Bahadurpur, Darbhanga
- Satyendra Kumar Choudhary, Superintending Engineer, Building Construction Department
- Kamlesh Kumar, General Manager (Technical), Bihar State Building Construction Corporation Limited
- Ravindra Kumar Diwakar, ADM (Supply), Patna
- Kumari Sweety, District Sub-Registrar, Danapur
- Amit Kumar Gupta, Enforcement Sub-Inspector, Transport Department
The EOU handled three of the five cases, while the Vigilance Investigation Bureau conducted the other two.
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Anand Kumar Vibhuti: 16 Plots and ₹70 Lakh Mutual Fund Records
On September 8, the EOU searched five locations linked to Anand Kumar Vibhuti, then BDO of Bahadurpur in Darbhanga.
According to the agency’s preliminary investigation, Vibhuti allegedly acquired assets worth around ₹1.71 crore beyond his known lawful sources of income. The alleged disproportion was calculated at about 121.87% of his known income.
Investigators reportedly found documents relating to 16 plots of land connected with the family. Records of mutual fund investments worth around ₹70 lakh were also examined.
The searches covered bank accounts, vehicles, jewellery and property documents. A house in East Champaran valued at around ₹70 lakh was also identified. No specific cash seizure amount was publicly reported in this case.
Satyendra Kumar Choudhary: Searches in Patna and Purnia
On September 16, the Vigilance Investigation Bureau searched three premises linked to Satyendra Kumar Choudhary, a Superintending Engineer posted in the Building Construction Department’s Purnia division.
The preliminary inquiry alleged disproportionate assets of around ₹1.97 crore. The searches covered residential properties in Patna and a residence-cum-office in Purnia.
Investigators examined property papers, bank records, investments and other financial documents. Reports also referred to facilities such as a lift and solar panels at the Patna property. No specific cash or jewellery recovery amount was publicly reported in this case.
Kamlesh Kumar: ₹25.86 Lakh Frozen in 16 Bank Accounts
On September 22, the EOU searched four locations linked to Kamlesh Kumar, General Manager (Technical) of Bihar State Building Construction Corporation Limited.
The agency’s preliminary findings put the alleged disproportionate assets at around ₹3.12 crore, or approximately 103.30% above his known sources of income.
Investigators found documents related to 12 immovable properties with a combined value of around ₹4.70 crore, including land, houses and flats.
The EOU also froze approximately ₹25.86 lakh across 16 bank accounts belonging to Kumar and close family members. Documents related to jewellery, luxury vehicles, investments and other financial transactions were also examined.
Ravindra Kumar Diwakar and Kumari Sweety: Nearly ₹80 Lakh Cash Recovered
One of the most significant recoveries came from the case involving Ravindra Kumar Diwakar, ADM (Supply), Patna, and his wife Kumari Sweety, District Sub-Registrar, Danapur.
On September 28, the Vigilance Bureau conducted simultaneous searches at four locations in Patna and Begusarai.
According to the preliminary investigation, the couple had an alleged disproportion of around ₹1.06–1.07 crore compared with their known income.
The searches resulted in the recovery of approximately ₹79.98 lakh in cash, including ₹70.53 lakh from a Patna flat and ₹9.44 lakh from Begusarai. Investigators also recovered gold, silver and diamond jewellery valued at around ₹52.60 lakh.
The searches also uncovered 48 watches valued at approximately ₹6.01 lakh and documents relating to seven immovable properties with a reported documentary value of around ₹2.92 crore.
The disproportionate-assets figure in this case relates jointly to the couple and should not be counted separately for each spouse.
Amit Kumar Gupta: ₹3 Lakh Cash and 11 Plot Records
On September 30, the EOU searched locations linked to Amit Kumar Gupta, an Enforcement Sub-Inspector of the Transport Department associated with the Mohania checkpost in Kaimur.
The agency alleged that Gupta had acquired around ₹1.49 crore in assets beyond his known sources of income, calculating the alleged disproportion at about 148.10%.
Investigators recovered ₹3 lakh in cash from his residence in Avadhpuri, Bhojpur. They also found an electric Tata Tiago and documents related to land and property purchases.
Records relating to 11 plots purchased in Ara, Patna and Chhapra in the names of Gupta and family members were found. Documents related to a G+3 house, a house under construction on around 5.1 decimals of land in Ara and a flat in Sai Vardan City, Patna, were also examined.
The EOU also found records concerning investments, bank accounts, shares and mutual funds as part of the ongoing probe.
Alleged Assets Across Five Cases Total About ₹9.38 Crore
Based on the preliminary figures cited in the five investigations, the alleged disproportionate assets are approximately:
- Anand Kumar Vibhuti: ₹1.71 crore
- Satyendra Kumar Choudhary: about ₹1.97 crore
- Kamlesh Kumar: about ₹3.12 crore
- Ravindra Kumar Diwakar and Kumari Sweety: about ₹1.06–1.07 crore
- Amit Kumar Gupta: about ₹1.49 crore
Together, the figures come to roughly ₹9.38 crore, although the amounts may change as the investigations progress and documents and financial transactions are scrutinised further.
Nearly ₹80 Lakh Cash Was the Largest Recovery
The largest reported cash recovery among the five cases came from the premises linked to Ravindra Kumar Diwakar and Kumari Sweety, where nearly ₹80 lakh was found.
The same investigation also resulted in the recovery of jewellery worth around ₹52.60 lakh and 48 watches.
In comparison, the EOU froze ₹25.86 lakh across 16 bank accounts in the Kamlesh Kumar case, while ₹3 lakh in cash was recovered during the search linked to Amit Kumar Gupta.
The investigations remain underway, with the agencies examining property ownership, bank transactions, investments and the sources of funds involved in each case. The searches reflect continued scrutiny of alleged accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income among government officials in Bihar.
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