Patna/Samastipur: The Vigilance Investigation Bureau on Wednesday carried out simultaneous raids at the Patna and Samastipur premises of Upendranath Verma, Executive Officer of Rosera Municipal Council, in a disproportionate assets case. The searches, which continued for nearly seven hours, led to the recovery of large amounts of cash, jewelry, land documents, and investment papers.
Officials said more than ₹10.5 lakh in cash was seized from Verma’s Patna residence, along with jewelry valued at over ₹27 lakh. The bureau also recovered three land deeds in addition to the 11 already listed in the FIR, taking the total to 14. Documents linked to investments in multiple insurance companies, a bank passbook, and two cars—an Innova and a Swift Dzire—were also seized.
DSP Abhijeet Kaur of the Vigilance Investigation Bureau stated that a preliminary confidential inquiry had suggested that Verma owned disproportionate assets worth around ₹1.17 crore. Based on the findings, an FIR was registered and search warrants were obtained from the court. The raids were conducted at Verma’s office and rented accommodation in Samastipur, and his residence in Patna.
During the search in Samastipur, Verma was not present at the location, which is a room above a hotel near his office. Officials said the surveillance camera installed there was switched off. The door was opened in the presence of a magistrate, and ₹5,600 was recovered from a cupboard.
A team of 11 officers—comprising three DSPs, two inspectors, four sub-inspectors, and two constables—arrived in three vehicles to conduct the operations.
Verma, while responding to the allegations, said he was being framed. “A deep conspiracy has been hatched against me. I come from a farmer family, and whatever has been found belongs to my family. I will submit all related documents in court. I do not own multiple flats or accounts — only my salary account,” he claimed.
According to the FIR, Verma is suspected of possessing assets around 86.3% higher than his known sources of income, amounting to ₹1,16,90,319. The Vigilance Bureau is continuing its probe to ascertain the full scale of alleged illegal wealth.
