Patna. The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar conducted simultaneous raids at five premises linked to Narad Kumar Das, an executive engineer posted in the Planning and Development Department, over allegations of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. During searches at his residences and office, the agency recovered ₹52.20 lakh in cash and jewellery valued at approximately ₹30 lakh. It also froze ₹17,15,688 deposited in four bank accounts held with different banks. Investigators seized property documents, investment records and other material relevant to the investigation.
The raids were carried out simultaneously in Bhagalpur, Munger, Muzaffarpur and Patna. The locations searched included the engineer’s ancestral home, his rented residence and office in Munger, his in-laws’ residence in Muzaffarpur, and a property in Patna. During the operation, officials recovered cash, jewellery, land documents and records relating to financial investments. The agency is now examining the sources of these assets and comparing their value with the engineer’s known lawful income.
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Cash Bundles Found Hidden Under Mattress in Muzaffarpur
The largest cash recovery was made at the engineer’s in-laws’ residence in Radhika Apartment, located in the Naya Tola area of Muzaffarpur. During the search, investigators discovered bundles of currency notes concealed beneath a mattress in one of the rooms. The cash was counted and found to total ₹50.50 lakh. Since the volume of currency was substantial, the EOU team had to arrange a note-counting machine from a bank to complete the process.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the members of the in-laws’ family could not provide a clear explanation for the source of such a large amount of cash. The engineer’s father-in-law is a retired teacher. His wife’s parental home is in Khakhrauna Dharampur, within the jurisdiction of Kurhani police station in Muzaffarpur district. The agency is investigating the ownership of the recovered money and the circumstances in which it was kept at the premises.
Cash, Jewellery and Vehicles Recovered in Munger
During the search of the engineer’s rented residence in Belan Bazar, Munger, officials recovered ₹1.70 lakh in cash and jewellery valued at approximately ₹30 lakh. A Hyundai i10 car, a motorcycle and several receipts relating to jewellery purchases were also found. The EOU team additionally searched the office of the Local Area Engineering Organisation’s divisional unit.
Investigators are examining the ownership of the recovered jewellery and vehicles, their purchase details and the corresponding payment records. The objective is to establish whether the money used to acquire these assets was consistent with the engineer’s known lawful income.
Property Worth Approximately ₹1.50 Crore in Mother-in-Law’s Name
The investigation also brought to light a house in the Kusumpuram locality, under Rupaspur police station in Patna, registered in the name of the engineer’s mother-in-law, Bina Vidyarthi. The property is estimated to be worth approximately ₹1.50 crore.
The house stands on a plot measuring around 3.9 decimals, reportedly purchased for approximately ₹50 lakh. However, the official registration value of the land is stated to be ₹68.41 lakh.
The EOU is examining the funds used to purchase the property, its valuation and the financial circumstances of the engineer’s family. Investigators are also trying to determine the sources from which the purchase money was arranged and whether any portion of the engineer’s income was used for the transaction.
Documents Seized from Ancestral House in Bhagalpur
A search was conducted at the engineer’s ancestral residence on Hanuman Path in the Tilkamanjhi area of Bhagalpur. The operation began at 7 am and continued until approximately 2 pm, lasting around seven hours.
During the search, officials seized land-related documents, electronic devices and papers concerning investments in Aditya Birla Group schemes and life insurance. Receipts for jewellery purchases worth approximately ₹5 lakh were also recovered. The engineer’s brother, Hari Kumar Das, and his family were present at the residence during the search.
₹83.53 Lakh Disproportionate Assets Case Registered
Narad Kumar Das, a native of Bhagalpur, joined the Water Resources Department as an assistant engineer in 2014. He was subsequently posted as an executive engineer in the divisional unit of the Local Area Engineering Organisation under the Planning and Development Department.
According to the first information report registered by the EOU, Das is accused of acquiring disproportionate assets worth ₹83.53 lakh. The alleged excess is approximately 65 per cent above his known lawful sources of income.
During the investigation, officials also found indications of substantial suspicious financial transactions involving his wife’s bank accounts. The agency is conducting a detailed examination of these transactions to establish the nature of the transfers, the sources of the funds and the manner in which the accounts were used.
The EOU is currently verifying the recovered cash, jewellery, immovable properties and investment documents. Investigators will assess the actual value of the assets and establish their legitimate sources based on the evidence gathered. The allegations remain subject to investigation, and the final findings will depend on the evidence available to the agency.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
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