Patna: The Bihar Vigilance Investigation Bureau has moved to confiscate assets worth Rs 4.14 crore belonging to eight former and serving government officials accused of corruption, in cases registered over the past decade.
According to the bureau, a proposal seeking approval for confiscation has been sent to the competent authority. Once clearance is granted, the properties will be transferred to the state government.
The officials named include two former village heads, a former superintending engineer, a judicial magistrate, a forest range officer, a sub-divisional officer (SDO), a tax inspector and a child development project officer (CDPO). Corruption cases against them were registered between 2012 and 2019.
Among those listed is Dilip Kumar, former forest range officer of Lakhisarai, against whom a case was filed in 2012. Assets worth more than Rs 88 lakh linked to him are proposed for confiscation. Vijay Pratap Singh, former SDO of Hathua in Gopalganj, faces the seizure of assets worth over Rs 62 lakh. Singh has previously served as additional collector in Gopalganj and secretary to the commissioner in Darbhanga division, and was named in three corruption cases in 2015.
The proposal also covers Phoolpari Kumari, former CDPO of Patna Rural; Ajay Kumar Gupta, former tax inspector with the Motihari municipal council; and Pramod Kumar Rai, former village head of Jitwaria gram panchayat in Samastipur district. Their combined assets exceed Rs 61 lakh.
Assets worth Rs 1.70 crore belonging to Om Prakash Manjhi, former superintending engineer of the rural works department, and Manager Yadav, former village head of Rajmarhiya Pakri gram panchayat in Lauriya, West Champaran, are also set to be confiscated. Manjhi was dismissed from government service following a corruption case registered in 2016. In addition, the bureau has proposed the confiscation of assets worth Rs 41.12 lakh belonging to Rakesh Kumar Rai, former judicial magistrate of Darbhanga, against whom a case was filed in July 2019.
The latest move forms part of a broader drive by the vigilance department. Officials said that proposals to confiscate assets worth Rs 96.76 crore have been submitted in 119 cases so far. Of these, 66 cases involving Rs 57 crore are pending before authorised officers’ courts, while 32 cases worth Rs 20.80 crore are awaiting decisions in the high court. Two cases are pending before the Supreme Court due to special leave petitions, and another two are under appeal. Assets worth Rs 6.03 crore have been finally confiscated in 11 cases to date.
“The process of confiscating the assets of corrupt officials is underway. Proposals covering assets worth nearly Rs 97 crore in 119 cases have been sent to the concerned authority, including eight cases this year,” said Jitendra Singh Gangwar, director general of vigilance.
Officials facing asset confiscation
- Manager Yadav, former village head, Lauriya, West Champaran – Rs 80.04 lakh
- Pramod Kumar Rai, former village head, Jitwaria, Samastipur – Rs 3.71 lakh
- Om Prakash Manjhi, former superintending engineer, rural works – Rs 90.75 lakh
- Rakesh Kumar Rai, former judicial magistrate, Darbhanga – Rs 41.12 lakh
- Dilip Kumar, former forest range officer – Rs 88.25 lakh
- Vijay Pratap Singh, former SDO, Gopalganj – Rs 62.35 lakh
- Ajay Kumar Gupta, former tax inspector, Motihari municipal council – Rs 34.62 lakh
- Phoolpari Kumari, former CDPO, Patna Rural – Rs 12.76 lakh
Total: Rs 4.14 crore
