Bihar EOU Conducts Widespread Raids on Senior Officials Over Disproportionate Assets
The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police executed a series of coordinated raids on Tuesday, targeting multiple premises associated with two high-ranking government officials accused of accumulating assets significantly beyond their legitimate income sources. The operation focused on Gautam Kumar, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Kishanganj, and Vaibhav Kumar, an officer with the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) in Saharsa.
Extensive Search Operations Across States
Raiding teams, led by additional and deputy superintendents of police, conducted searches in various districts of Bihar, including Kishanganj, Purnia, Patna, Saharsa, and Muzaffarpur, as well as extending to Siliguri in West Bengal. These actions were authorized by search warrants issued by the special vigilance court in Patna, following the registration of two First Information Reports (FIRs) on March 29, 2026, at the EOU police station in Patna.
Details of Assets Linked to Gautam Kumar
Investigators allege that Gautam Kumar possesses disproportionate wealth amounting to nearly Rs 1.94 crore, which is approximately 60.27% higher than his known sources of income. Searches were carried out at six locations, including his official residence in Kishanganj and properties in Purnia, Patna, and Siliguri.
At his Purnia residence, officials recovered documents pertaining to around 25 plots of land, along with papers related to insurance policies and other financial investments. His four-storey house in Purnia, covering an area of about 3,600 square feet, is estimated to have cost around Rs 2.5 crore. However, supplier bills exceeding Rs 1 crore were also seized during the raid.
Additional recoveries included expensive watches, vehicles, and documents outlining plans to establish a nursing home in Patna. From his official residence, Rs 1.37 lakh in cash and various investment documents were confiscated, while four more land documents were seized from his ancestral home in Patna.
Searches at his in-laws' house yielded documents related to gold jewellery and investments made by his wife, Ruby Kashyap, which are currently being appraised for value. At the residence of co-accused Shagufta Shamim, investigators discovered documents for seven land plots and gold jewellery valued at approximately Rs 60 lakh, alongside evidence of cash deposits and online transfers into her bank account.
Nayyar Hasnain Khan, Additional Director General of Police (ADG) of the EOU, commented that the Purnia house appeared exceptionally luxurious and potentially worth far more than the declared amount. He stated, "Raids are still ongoing. His properties are not only spread across Bihar but also in other regions, including West Bengal, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and possibly beyond the border."
Separate Case Involving Vaibhav Kumar
In a parallel investigation, EOU teams searched eight locations connected to Vaibhav Kumar in Saharsa and Muzaffarpur. Authorities allege that he acquired assets worth about Rs 2.41 crore disproportionate to his income, with his wealth increasing by around 78.03% after entering government service.
Officials recovered documents related to investments in LIC, SBI Life, and the National Pension System (NPS), as well as evidence of cash deposits exceeding Rs 20 lakh in various bank accounts. Investigators also found 16 registration documents for commercial and residential land in Muzaffarpur and Patna, purchased since 2016 in the names of his wife, son, and father.
Records further indicate that Vaibhav Kumar spent approximately Rs 1.5 crore to construct facilities for an ITI training institute in Muzaffarpur through a charitable trust managed by his father.
Official Notifications and Ongoing Investigations
The EOU has formally notified the rural development department and the home department regarding the allegations and the officers' alleged dereliction of duty. The raids underscore a rigorous crackdown on corruption within the state administration, with investigations continuing to uncover the full extent of the illicit assets.
This operation highlights the EOU's commitment to tackling economic offenses and ensuring accountability among public servants, as part of broader efforts to promote transparency and integrity in governance.
