Patna: The Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) probing the Bihar tender scam has filed a 4,000-page chargesheet against seven accused, additional director general (ADG) Pankaj Darad said on Wednesday.Those named are Rishu Shri, senior IAS officer Sanjeev Hans, Santosh Kumar, Pawan Kumar, Mumukshu Chaudhary, Tarini Das and Umesh Singh. Darad said evidence has also emerged against other unidentified persons.The SVU alleged the accused brokered tenders and “managed” govt officials through commissions. Darad said evidence has been recovered showing Rishu handled multiple tenders in Saharsa, while Tarini Das allegedly helped secure 10 tenders.SVU teams recorded witness statements and carried out searches across several districts, including Saharsa and Sitamarhi, before submitting the chargesheet.Darad said Rishu’s alleged method was to push favoured companies for government contracts, collect 7% to 10% commission and distribute shares to officials, with proof found in mobile phones and documents. In the Kosi Barrage case, he allegedly used influence to award a tender to an Ahmedabad-based firm before the work was shifted to his own company, where Pawan Kumar is a director.The ADG said that while posted as secretary in the water resources department, Hans allegedly committed irregularities in setting up a physical modeling center under the Kosi Basin Development Project at Birpur, Supaul. The enforcement directorate (ED) probe found evidence Hans received commission as bribe from Rishu, he added.SVU said Rishu used illegal income to buy high-value land in Delhi NCR, Haryana, Patna and other parts of Bihar. During raids at his residence, investigators seized Rs 53.5 lakh in cash, jewellery worth Rs 2.13 crore, 61 sale deeds with a circle-rate value of about Rs 58.58 crore and several luxury vehicles. Darad said Rishu amassed significant wealth within seven to eight years.Darad said there is solid evidence against all seven accused and that IAS officer Sanjeev Hans and Pawan Kumar will be arrested, adding both are currently absconding.IAS officers Abhilasha Sharma and Yogesh Kumar Sagar will be questioned, Darad said, adding notices have been issued twice but they have not appeared yet. He said the ED found evidence against them and that Rishu sent both on foreign trips. Darad said they have not been given a clean chit.According to the SVU, Mumukshu Chaudhary, a 1999-batch Bihar Administrative Service officer and currently joint secretary in the finance department, was allegedly appointed municipal commissioner in Sitamarhi after Rishu lobbied with the then district magistrate, following which municipal tenders went to Rishu’s companies.Darad said Rishu obtained urban development project tenders worth nearly Rs 10 crore during Chaudhary’s tenures in Sitamarhi and Saharsa and bribes were paid. The ED earlier recovered Rs 2 crore in cash from Chaudhary’s residence, and SVU PS Case No. 24/25 has been registered.Tarini Das, a former chief engineer in the Building Construction Department who retired in late 2024 but received a two-year extension, allegedly took 3.5% commission, Darad said.He allegedly awarded 13 tenders worth Rs 86.43 crore to Rishu’s firms M/s Reliable Enterprises and Reliable Infra Services Pvt Ltd, with commission estimated at over Rs 3 crore. The ED seized Rs 8.57 crore in cash from Das’s residence during a raid last year.Umesh Kumar Singh, an executive engineer with BUIDCO under the Urban Development and Housing Department, is alleged to have received a 2.5% commission, Darad said, citing an ED-recovered chat. A raid at Singh’s residence recovered Rs 1 crore in cash, he added.
