Patna: The anti-corruption drive in Bihar gathered pace on Saturday after the Economic Offences Unit launched coordinated raids at multiple locations linked to Gopal Kumar, an executive engineer in the Rural Works Department. Officials said Rs 40 lakh in cash had been recovered so far during searches, while several important documents related to land, bank accounts and investments were also seized. The raids began early in the morning and continued throughout the day, as officials searched for evidence in a case involving alleged disproportionate assets.
Separate teams of the Economic Offences Unit carried out the operation in Patna and Jamui. In Patna, officers searched a flat in Jagat Villa Apartments in the Jyotipuram area and another house in East Indira Nagar in Kankarbagh. In Jamui district, officials raided a rented house near KKM College and also searched the Jhajha Rural Works Division office. The search teams, led by officers of deputy superintendent rank, spent hours checking rooms, files and storage areas. Sources said officials collected a large number of financial records and property papers that may help build the case.
According to the FIR registered by the Economic Offences Unit, Kumar is accused of possessing assets much higher than his declared sources of income. Investigators said a verification process found that he had allegedly acquired nearly Rs 2 crore in extra assets that could not be explained by his salary or legal earnings. The agency claims these assets are around 81.5% more than his known income. This has led to suspicion that wealth may have been accumulated through unlawful means during his service in the department.
Officials are now examining where the cash recovered during the raids came from and how the properties and investments were purchased. They are also checking whether any land or financial assets were registered in the names of relatives or other people to hide ownership. Investigators believe several documents seized during the operation could reveal more details about the money trail and may expose additional financial dealings. The agency said all documents have been taken into custody and are being carefully reviewed.
The operation is part of Bihar’s wider effort to act against corruption among public servants. In recent months, the Economic Offences Unit has stepped up scrutiny of government officials suspected of building wealth beyond their known income. Officials said this case is being treated seriously because of the scale of the alleged assets and the evidence recovered during the searches. They added that once the investigation is complete, legal action could be expanded depending on what the records show.
The raids are expected to continue until late evening, and the agency has not ruled out further action, including arrest, if strong evidence emerges. Officials said the seized bank records, property deeds and investment papers are now being analysed in detail. The case is likely to remain under close watch as the investigation continues and authorities try to trace the full extent of the engineer’s assets.
