The Bihar government has granted sanction for prosecution against suspended Mr. Sanjiv Hans (1997-batch IAS officer) in connection with a money laundering case, paving the way for legal proceedings against him.
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In December 2024, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a chargesheet in a special court against five individuals, including Mr. Hans and former MLA Mr. Gulab Yadav, under charges of money laundering. However, the court had not taken cognizance of the case against Mr. Hans, as it was awaiting government approval for prosecution. Now, with the sanction granted, legal proceedings against him are set to begin, according to sources.
Prior to this, the Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) had registered an FIR against Mr. Hans, accusing him of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. This FIR became the basis for the ED’s money laundering probe, which was conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Investigations revealed that Mr. Hans allegedly amassed wealth far exceeding his legitimate earnings through corrupt practices between 2018 and 2023. During this period, he served as the Principal Secretary of Bihar’s Energy Department and also held positions on central deputation.
With the Bihar government’s approval now in place, the court will proceed with the prosecution, marking a crucial development in the high-profile money laundering case.
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