PATNA: The Bihar government has dismissed Tarini Das, the Chief Engineer of the Building Construction Department, after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) unearthed Rs 11.64 crore in unaccounted cash from his residence.
The massive haul, discovered during a money laundering probe linked to senior IAS officer Sanjeev Hans, has sent shockwaves through the state’s bureaucracy.
Das, who was serving on an extension post-retirement, now faces departmental proceedings, according to an official notification issued shortly after the dramatic seizure.
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Following the explosive discovery at Das’ home, the ED launched fresh searches across seven locations in Patna on Thursday. The officials under the scanner include:
– Mumukshu Chaudhary, Joint Secretary in Bihar’s Finance Department
– Umesh Kumar Singh, Executive Engineer in the Urban Development & Housing Department
The agency is investigating a deep-rooted money laundering nexus involving bureaucrats and contractors, particularly linked to government tenders.
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The case originates from a Bihar Police vigilance unit probe against Sanjeev Hans, a 1997-batch IAS officer and former Principal Secretary of Bihar’s Energy Department. The ED suspects Hans of amassing illicit wealth through corrupt practices during his tenure in Bihar and while on central deputation from 2018 to 2023.
According to ED sources, intelligence inputs had indicated the presence of benami transactions and illegal dealings linked to multiple officials. However, when investigators entered Das’ residence, they were left staggered by the sheer volume of currency, neatly stacked across multiple rooms.
Authorities suspect that several bureaucrats and contractors could be involved in the growing corruption scandal. As the ED digs deeper, more revelations are expected in what is shaping up to be one of Bihar’s biggest corruption crackdowns in recent years.
