Patna: The Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) has launched an investigation into alleged disproportionate assets worth Rs1.41 crore against Awdhesh Kumar Sinha, superintending engineer in the tourism department. The assets are around 75% higher than his known source of income.A case was registered against Sinha at Vigilance Police Station on July 16 under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018.After verification, the VIB obtained search warrants from the special vigilance court, Patna. On July 17, sleuths of the VIB conducted searches at three residential and official premises linked to Sinha in Patna. The searches continued till late night.According to officials, several documents and records related to assets and investments allegedly acquired in the name of Sinha and his family members were recovered. These included papers related to three flats, 12 deeds, 19 bank accounts and investments in various insurance schemes.The teams also recovered documents related to a 2-kattha and 4-dhur plot in Friends Colony, Ashiana Nagar. The purchase value of the land was mentioned as Rs75.63 lakh. Documents related to a house being constructed on the plot and payments to a civil contractor were also found. Another land agreement worth Rs5.62 lakh was recovered.The searches also led to the recovery of Rs61,000 in cash, gold jewellery valued at Rs5.05 lakh, diamond-studded gold jewellery worth Rs3.07 lakh and silver ornaments valued at Rs1.52 lakh.“A bank locker linked to Sinha will be opened as part of further proceedings. Documents related to an SUV were also recovered. The investigation is underway,” the officials said on Saturday.
