Patna: The Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) on Tuesday carried out raids at several locations linked to Gajadhar Mandal, Director of the Building Construction Department of the Bihar government, in connection with a case of alleged disproportionate assets. Officials said the action was taken after preliminary investigations suggested that Mandal had accumulated property and funds worth more than Rs 2 crore during his service. Teams conducted searches in Patna and Bhagalpur, marking yet another high-profile vigilance operation in the state.
According to the SVU, the case relates to assets that are believed to be far in excess of Mandal’s known and legal sources of income. A formal case, numbered 27/2025, has been registered against him. Vigilance officials claim that while serving in different government positions over the years, Mandal allegedly acquired assets worth around Rs 2 crore 82 lakh 61 thousand. Investigators say this amount does not match his declared income, raising suspicions of corruption and misuse of official position. At present, Mandal is posted as Director of the Building Construction Department in Darbhanga district.
The raids were conducted after a special vigilance court issued a search warrant. Acting on this order, SVU teams searched Mandal’s residence and office premises in Patna and Bhagalpur. An office located in the Rajvanshi Nagar area of Patna was also searched, from where officials reportedly recovered several important documents. These documents are now being examined to trace financial transactions, property details and other records linked to the case.
The case has been registered under Sections 13(1)(b), 13(2) and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended in 2018), along with Section 61(2)(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. SVU officials said Mandal was questioned at length during the raids and that the investigation is continuing. The action reflects the Bihar government’s ongoing focus on identifying and acting against officials accused of accumulating wealth beyond their legitimate earnings.
