A railway engineer’s seemingly ordinary career masked a multi-crore fortune. Now, the ED’s decisive action in Bihar lays bare how corruption festers behind government desks, and sends a chilling warning to officials living beyond their means.
An Empire Beyond Means: How a Government Salary Fed Crores in Assets
The financial puzzle first surfaced in November 2020, when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed an FIR and chargesheet against Ravish Kumar, alleging assets vastly disproportionate to his income. From January 2009 to October 2020, Kumar reportedly acquired wealth 320 times higher than his legal earnings, a figure investigators called “astounding by any yardstick of legitimate income.”
The ED, acting on the CBI’s findings, traced the couple’s holdings, uncovering 16 immovable properties valued at ₹6.04 crore, and movable assets worth ₹1.42 crore in bank deposits, fixed deposits, term deposits, and National Savings Certificates. Crucially, many property purchases were made in cash, raising suspicion of black money flows and benami transactions.
The Corruption Trail: From Patna to a Nationwide Crackdown
Officials revealed that most properties were located in prime areas of Patna and other towns in Bihar. The investigation also found links to contractors and suppliers connected with railway projects, hinting at possible kickbacks funnelled through fake contracts and inflated bills.
This case comes amid a broader anti-corruption push nationwide, where the ED has stepped up seizures and prosecutions of government employees and public sector officers. Analysts say the sheer scale of Kumar’s assets has rattled the Indian Railways, an institution grappling with repeated allegations of graft and cronyism.
A System Under Scrutiny: The Message Beyond One Officer
Legal experts note that permanent confiscation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) indicates the ED has built a watertight case. Yet, it also spotlights the larger challenge of curbing entrenched corruption in public service.
The final outcome now hinges on court proceedings and potential appeals. Meanwhile, the ED’s action sends a chilling signal to other government departments, where whispers of hidden wealth and shadow dealings continue to circulate.
About the author – Prakriti Jha is a student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, currently pursuing B.Sc. LL.B (Hons.) with a keen interest in the intersection of law and data science. She is passionate about exploring how legal frameworks adapt to the evolving challenges of technology and justice.