Patna: The Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) on Friday conducted simultaneous searches at premises linked to Rajendra Kumar, superintending engineer with the minor water resources department, in connection with a disproportionate assets case. During the searches, investigators recovered Rs1.96 lakh in cash and gold and silver jewellery worth around Rs76 lakh, besides property documents and bills related to vehicles and other expensive items.SVU teams also recovered documents relating to immovable properties in Hakam village of Gopalganj, Mahavir Nagar-Beur and Bikram in Patna district, Nawada and Nerul in Mumbai. The properties include around 75 decimals of land, a flat in Mumbai and other immovable assets. Their total value has been estimated at around Rs 3.34 crore, while stamp duty and other charges amount to approximately Rs15.18 lakh, the agency said.The searches covered Kumar’s residence at Mahavir Colony in Beur, the residence of his mother-in-law in Patna, a flat associated with his sister in Mumbai, his office at the minor water resources department’s Saran Circle, his office at the Vigilance Cell, Jal Bhawan, Sheikhpura, Patna, and his ancestral residence in Gopalganj.According to the SVU, preliminary verification had indicated that Kumar allegedly possessed disproportionate assets worth ovr Rs3 crore which the agency alleged were acquired through illegal and corrupt means and were substantially higher than his known income from government salary and other legitimate sources.A case was registered at the SVU police station on Sept 10 under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, following which searches were conducted on Sept 11 at his residential and official premises.SVU ADG Sudhanshu Kumar said, “The documents examined by the agency included properties registered in the names of Kumar’s mother Sunaina Devi and his wife Kanchan Kumari. The total value of the listed properties and associated assets in the document was stated at Rs3.34 crore, with stamp and other charges amounting to about Rs15.18 lakh.”During the search of Kumar’s residence, the SVU also recovered documents relating to a plot in Sonepur valued at Rs18 lakh. Investigators also found a receipt showing payment of Rs39 lakh towards the purchase of another plot.“SVU also found information about six bank accounts in State Bank of India in the names of Kumar, his wife Kanchan Kumari and his mother Sunaina Devi, besides accounts in other banks. The agency said substantial deposits were suspected to have been made in these accounts and further verification is underway,” the ADG said.Kumar joined govt service in 2008. The SVU alleged that he acquired substantial assets during his service through illegal and corrupt means.
