Patna, Aug 11 (IANS) The Bihar’s Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) has conducted simultaneous raids at multiple locations linked to Harendra Kumar, an Executive Engineer with the Minor Water Resources Department, in connection with a disproportionate assets case on Tuesday, officials said.
Kumar is currently posted as an Executive Engineer in Banka.
The vigilance team searched several premises associated with him, including residences and official locations in Patna, Vaishali and Banka.
During the searches, investigators reportedly recovered cash, jewellery and expensive watches from Kumar’s residence in Patna.
The volume of cash was reportedly significant enough for the team to use note-counting machines.
However, officials have not yet disclosed the total amount of cash or the overall value of the assets recovered.
The exact figures are expected to emerge after the search and assessment process is completed.
The SVU team detained Harendra Kumar at his residence and subsequently took him to his office in Banka for questioning.
Investigators examined departmental records, documents related to assets and other papers considered relevant to the case.
The searches included a flat at Nandini Apartment in Mahavir Nagar of Patna, as well as a house in the Beur area.
The team also searched premises in Simarwara under Patepur police station in Vaishali district and the Executive Engineer’s office at the Minor Water Resources Department in Banka.
Investigators are examining documents related to land and property, bank accounts, financial transactions, investments and departmental records.
Sources indicated that several documents concerning assets were recovered during the searches.
According to available information, Harendra Kumar was transferred to Banka as an Executive Engineer around a month ago. Before that, he was posted in Gaya.
The vigilance authorities initiated the investigation following a complaint alleging that Kumar had accumulated assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The SVU has subsequently registered a formal disproportionate assets case and is carrying out further investigation.
In a disproportionate assets investigation, authorities typically compare an official’s known and legitimate income with their assets, expenditure, investments and other financial transactions during the period under scrutiny.
Investigators are now cross-checking bank accounts, property documents, investments and other financial records to determine the source and value of the assets identified during the searches.
The SVU operation is currently ongoing, and the documents, cash and other assets recovered during the raids are being examined.
Further details, including the total value of the assets seized or accounted for, are expected after the assessment is completed.
–IANS
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