Patna: The Enforcement Directorate has provisionally attached assets worth more than Rs 1.5 crore belonging to senior Bihar police officer Shivendra Priyadarshi, who is accused of amassing disproportionate assets during his tenure as DIG of Prisons and Correctional Services.
The attached properties include two residential flats, bank deposits, gold and silver jewellery, fixed deposits, Kisan Vikas Patras and investments in National Savings Certificates. According to the agency, these assets were held in the names of Priyadarshi and his wife.
The ED said its action followed a detailed analysis of records gathered during a vigilance probe. The Special Vigilance Unit had earlier investigated the officer, registering a case against him in February 2017 and filing a charge sheet three months later. Based on those findings, the ED launched a money-laundering investigation to trace the alleged proceeds of crime.
The agency claims that Priyadarshi used his official position to acquire assets that far exceeded his known sources of income. The attachment, it said, was necessary to prevent the dissipation of property suspected to be linked to corruption.
The case is expected to proceed before the adjudicating authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, which will review the ED’s evidence and decide whether the attached assets should be confiscated.
