The Enforcement Directorate's (ED) Patna zonal unit has taken decisive action against a former senior official of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in a significant corruption case. The agency has provisionally attached immovable and movable properties valued at approximately Rs 2.85 crore. These assets belong to Prabhanshu Shekhar, who served as the Deputy General Manager (DGM) of NHAI in Bihar, and members of his family.
Details of the Attached Properties
The attached wealth includes a mix of high-value items and investments. The immovable properties consist of flats and land parcels located in Bihar and Delhi. On the movable side, the ED has seized bank balances, a collection of gold and silver jewellery, and various investments made in insurance policies. This action was carried out under the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
In an official statement, the ED clarified the source of these assets. "These assets were acquired by Shekhar in his own name as well as his family members' through indulgence in corrupt practices," the agency stated, leaving no doubt about the alleged illicit origins of the wealth.
The Source: CBI FIR and ED's PMLA Probe
The ED's money laundering investigation was triggered by First Information Reports (FIRs) previously registered by the Anti-corruption Bureau of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Patna. The CBI had alleged violations under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
Delving into the CBI's charge sheet dated December 22, 2023, the ED found compelling evidence. The probe covered a check period from January 1, 2016, to September 23, 2022. During this nearly seven-year span, Shekhar was found to have amassed disproportionate assets worth Rs 4.07 crore in his and his family's names, far exceeding his known legal sources of income.
Modus Operandi: Inflated Bills and Substandard Materials
The ED's investigation under PMLA uncovered the specific methods used to generate illegal wealth. The agency alleges that during his tenure as DGM in Bihar, Prabhanshu Shekhar engaged in corrupt practices to benefit a private contractor.
His alleged actions included clearing inflated bills, manipulating official measurement books, and deliberately overlooking the use of substandard construction materials by Ashoka Buildcon Limited. This misconduct, according to the ED, led to the generation of substantial "Proceeds of Crime".
"Part of these were directly deposited into the bank accounts of his family members and also utilised for daily expenses," the ED revealed. The agency further detailed that the cash proceeds were strategically invested in immovable properties registered in his wife's name, while movable assets were acquired in his own name and those of other family members.
The Enforcement Directorate has confirmed that further investigation into the case is ongoing, indicating that more details or actions may follow in this high-profile probe into corruption within a crucial national infrastructure authority.
