Special Vigilance Unit Searches Four Residences of Excise Superintendent Across Patna, Aurangabad, and Jehanabad; Cash, Jewelry, and Land Documents Seized.
Patna/Aurangabad – The Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) conducted coordinated raids on Saturday at four properties belonging to Excise Superintendent Anil Kumar Azad in Bihar. The operations revealed assets worth Rs 12.43 crore, including cash, jewelry, and documents related to land holdings. The raids involved three bank lockers and several investment records, highlighting the alleged accumulation of wealth beyond declared income.
SVU Operations Across Three Cities
SVU teams carried out searches at Anil Kumar Azad’s office and residences in Patna, Jehanabad, and Aurangabad. Counting machines were deployed to tally the cash recovered. The seized assets included bank passbooks, investment records, jewelry, and cash, indicating a mix of movable and immovable wealth.
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The SVU detailed the locations raided as follows:
- Aurangabad: Excise Superintendent’s office, Prohibition and Excise Department, near Barwa Morh.
- Aurangabad City: Rented residence
- Jehanabad: Personal residence
- Patna: Residential property at Shivpuri, Shriram Nikunj, 3 Manas Marg, West Shivpuri.
Official’s Response: ‘I Am Innocent’
Following the raids, Anil Kumar Azad claimed that the allegations were part of a conspiracy by vested interests and termed all charges as baseless. He emphasized that he had extended full cooperation during the searches.
Azad also highlighted his professional record, stating that he had been awarded three medals for exemplary service in the Excise Department. He suggested that the raids, coinciding with his return from his nephew’s wedding, appeared to be carried out with malicious intent.
Allegation: Accumulation of Assets Beyond Legal Income
The SVU alleges that Anil Kumar Azad misused his official position to acquire approximately Rs 1.58 crore of unaccounted assets. Based on this, a case under Income Beyond Legal Means has been registered, and the SVU secured court-approved warrants to search all associated properties.
Materials Seized During the Raids
The following materials were seized during the raids-
- Large quantities of cash and jewelry
- Three bank lockers and passbooks
- Land and investment documents
- Other significant government and private records
SVU sources indicate that further searches may reveal additional crucial information, and the investigations remain ongoing.
Potential Impact Across the State
The case has revived discussions on the asset verification of government officials in Bihar. SVU’s coordinated actions are being seen as a strong measure to strengthen oversight and curb corruption, sending a clear message that misuse of public office will not be tolerated.
Experts note that such comprehensive raids reflect a firm stance against corruption and are likely to deter officials across other departments from engaging in illicit wealth accumulation.
The progress of Anil Kumar Azad’s case, including further hearings and investigations, is being closely monitored by authorities. The SVU has stated that searches and asset verification will continue until the probe is fully concluded.
