Patna: The investigation into contractor and alleged liaison agent Rishu Shri has widened, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) preparing to question a number of officials, relatives and associates whose names have surfaced during the probe into alleged tender manipulation and corruption in Bihar.
Rishu Shri was arrested following an SVU raid on his residence in Patna’s Mithapur area on May 27 and was subsequently remanded to judicial custody. The SVU had registered a case against him on April 30, 2025.
Investigators say statements, financial records and electronic evidence collected during the inquiry have led them to several senior government officials, including IAS officers Yogesh Kumar Sagar and Abhilasha Sharma, both of whom are already facing scrutiny in connection with the case.
Senior Officials Under Scanner
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the names of several Joint Secretary-level officers and senior engineers have also emerged during questioning.
The agencies suspect that a number of officials may have received benefits from Rishu Shri or entities allegedly linked to him. Investigators are expected to summon these officials for questioning, and fresh cases could be registered depending on the evidence gathered.
The SVU has also compiled a department-wise list of contracts awarded to companies associated with Rishu Shri, as investigators seek to map the extent of his alleged influence within government procurement processes.
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Relatives And Employees To Be Questioned
The probe has also expanded to include members of Rishu Shri’s family and employees connected to his business operations.
Investigators have prepared a list of relatives and associates whose names surfaced during the ED inquiry. Among them are his wife, Ritambhara, who is listed as a director and equal shareholder in two firms — Reliable Infra Services and Shri Nest Built Infra.
According to ED allegations, these companies were used to route funds that were subsequently transferred to former senior bureaucrat Sanjeev Hans and a female advocate.
The investigation has further alleged that Rishu Shri appointed his elder brother, Chinmay Priya, as a “dummy director” in an associated company, M/s Sai Ashirwad Construction Private Limited.
Officials claim that Rs 1.60 crore was transferred from the account of Reliable Enterprises to an ICICI Bank account belonging to his younger brother, Shubham Shri. Investigators suspect the money originated from proceeds linked to bribery.
The names of Shubham Shri, cousin Dharmendra and several employees and associates — including Santosh, Pawan, Sahil, Ranjit, Jitendra, Shyam Gupta, Mithilesh and Kumkum — have also surfaced during the investigation and are expected to be examined.
Case Traces Back To Sanjeev Hans Investigation
The origins of the current probe lie in an FIR registered at Rupaspur police station on January 9, 2023, against senior IAS officer Sanjeev Hans and former MLA Gulab Yadav in a case involving allegations of rape and blackmail made by a female advocate.
Based on that FIR, the ED registered a money laundering case against Hans in March 2024.
In September 2024, the SVU lodged a separate FIR against Hans and others alleging corruption and possession of assets disproportionate to known sources of income.
Rishu Shri’s name first emerged during searches conducted by the ED in July 2024 as part of its investigation into Hans. Officials said evidence recovered from electronic devices and business premises allegedly pointed to irregularities in government tenders and suspected payments to public servants.
Based on those findings, the SVU registered a fresh case in April 2025 against Rishu Shri, Sanjeev Hans, company employees and others. The ED subsequently opened a separate money laundering investigation linked to the same allegations in May 2025.
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ED Raids Multiple Locations Linked to Rishu Shri in Alleged Corruption Probe
Focus On Alleged Tender-Fixing Network
Investigators are now examining whether a broader network operated to influence government contracts across departments.
Officials said the inquiry is focused on alleged tender manipulation, the flow of funds between companies and individuals, and the role of public servants who may have benefited from the arrangement.
With more questioning expected in the coming weeks, the agencies are likely to determine whether additional criminal cases should be filed against officials, relatives and associates whose names have emerged during the course of the investigation.
