Patna: The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police recovered Rs2.5 lakh in cash, documents related to several vehicles, jewellery and 54 land purchase documents valued at crores of rupees during searches at multiple premises linked to Kesaria nagar panchayat ward councillor Rajneesh Kumar Pathak alias Rinku Pathak and his wife Kiran Devi, the chief councillor of the East Champaran civic body, on Tuesday.The searches were conducted as part of a disproportionate assets (DA) case registered against the couple for allegedly acquiring property worth Rs3.56 crore beyond their known sources of income. According to the EOU, the DA amounted to approximately 124% of their known legal income.The case was registered on Monday at the Economic Offences Police Station under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. The case was initiated on the basis of information received by the agency regarding the alleged acquisition of assets through corrupt means.DIG of EOU, Manavjit Singh Dhillon, said after obtaining search warrants from the Special Court of Vigilance, Patna, EOU teams conducted searches at five locations on Tuesday. The premises included the couple’s ancestral residence in Chainpur locality of Kesaria, their private residence near a fuel station in Kesaria Bazaar, the office and warehouse of Yuvraj Gas Agency, the chief councillor’s office at the Kesaria nagar panchayat govt building in Motihari and a flat in Balaji Nagar, Danapur, Patna.The searches were carried out with the assistance of the Special Task Force and under the supervision of officers of additional superintendent of police and DSP-rank officer.Among the important recoveries were 54 documents relating to land purchases in Patna, Delhi, Mumbai and Motihari. Documents concerning several vehicles and jewellery were also found during the searches. The DIG said the seized documents were being examined and the investigation could establish further details about the DA.Pathak was first elected as a ward councillor from ward no. 8 of Kesaria nagar panchayat in 2008 and continued in the post until 2018. He returned to the civic body after being elected from ward no. 7 in 2023 and is currently serving as a ward councillor. His wife, Kiran Devi, has been serving as the chief councillor of Kesaria nagar panchayat since 2023.
