Bihar Officials Under Scrutiny After ₹9 Crore Cash Seizure; SVU Widens Probe

Bihar Officials Face Questions After ₹9 Crore Cash Seizure, SVU Deepens Investigation

Patna: Eight months after the Enforcement Directorate seized more than ₹9 crore in cash from the homes of senior Bihar officials, the core mystery remains unresolved — who did the money belong to, and where did it originate?
The state’s Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) has now reopened the trail, expanding the probe into what authorities say could be a deeply rooted tender-commission network operating inside key government departments.

The parallel inquiry signals an escalation in a scandal that began under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and has since grown into a broader examination of how public contracts may have been illicitly monetised.

SVU Steps In as Mystery Around Cash Intensifies

Investigators say the cash recovery — ₹7 crore from the home of retired Chief Engineer Tarini Das and ₹2 crore from the residence of Finance Department Joint Secretary Mumukshu Chaudhary — represents only a fragment of a larger system of unofficial payments.

Despite the sheer volume of money recovered during the ED’s night-long raid using currency-sorting machines, both officials have denied any knowledge of the funds.
The SVU is preparing detailed interrogations to address unresolved gaps, including the source of the cash, possible intermediaries, and whether it was intended for redistribution within bureaucratic networks.

A Contractor’s Statement Helps Expose a Larger Web

The probe initially accelerated after the ED questioned contractor Rishu Ranjan Sinha, known locally as “Rishushree.”
According to officials, Sinha described an informal ecosystem in which commissions were fixed in advance, payments were passed through intermediaries and contract clearances allegedly hinged on financial favours.

His testimony provided investigators with a clearer picture of how tenders in construction-related departments reportedly moved only after commissions were secured.

Inside Bihar’s Alleged Tender-Commission Economy

As authorities analysed the documents and financial patterns, several alleged mechanisms repeatedly surfaced:

• Senior engineers reportedly charged 4–6% commissions to process tender files.

• Contractors were allegedly asked to pay an additional 2–5% to expedite bill clearances.

• Officials often pressured contractors to purchase materials from selected vendors in exchange for kickbacks.

Multiple IAS officers, including Sanjeev Hans, Yogesh Kumar Sagar and Abhilasha Sharma, are under scrutiny, though none have been formally accused.
Investigators believe the seized cash may represent only a portion of the money circulating through these networks.

A New Phase Begins as Key Questions Remain

While ED has wrapped up its initial action and recommended FIRs under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the SVU’s fresh inquiry seeks to address unanswered questions:

• Who deposited the seized cash at the officials’ homes?

• Was the money collected for a wider chain of beneficiaries?

• How far did the network extend inside and outside state departments?

Officials from the Building Construction Department have requested ED’s documentation to determine whether parallel administrative action is required.

The new phase of the probe suggests the case may significantly widen before investigators reach a definitive conclusion.

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