Bihar – Disproportionate Assets Case: In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken decisive action by filing a Prosecution Complaint (PC) before the Hon’ble Special Court (PMLA), Patna, against Shishir Kumar, the former Assistant Engineer with Jila Parishad, Vaishali, Bihar, and his family members. The case pertains to allegations of amassing Disproportionate Assets (DA) during Shishir Kumar’s tenure in the government.
The ED’s intervention comes on the heels of an investigation initiated based on an FIR registered by the Economic Offence Unit (EOU) in Patna, Bihar. The FIR, lodged under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and the Indian Penal Code, 1860, accuses Shishir Kumar and others of accumulating assets disproportionate to their known sources of income through corrupt and illegal means.
The chargesheet filed by the EOU, Bihar, Patna, quantified the disproportionate assets attributed to Shishir Kumar at Rs. 1.65 Crore. However, the ED’s subsequent investigation uncovered a more extensive network of impropriety. Shishir Kumar had allegedly acquired 23 immovable properties valued at Rs. 2.57 Crore in his name and in the names of his family members, including his wife, son, daughter, father, and brother, during his service period.
“Additionally, movable properties amounting to Rs. 14.25 Lakh were allegedly acquired by Shishir Kumar. The ED contends that these acquisitions were made with the intent to conceal proceeds of crime and integrate ill-gotten funds into the mainstream economy”.
The Enforcement Directorate, responding to these findings, provisionally attached properties worth Rs. 2.72 Crore, a figure surpassing the initially identified Rs. 1.65 Crore mentioned in the chargesheet by EOU, Bihar, Patna. The Provisional Attachment Order issued by the ED in this case has been confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority, underscoring the severity of the allegations and the swift action taken by investigative authorities.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the case against Shishir Kumar serves as a reminder of the commitment to combat corruption and ensure accountability within government ranks. The ED’s intervention reflects a determination to unearth and address instances of disproportionate assets, sending a strong message against financial misconduct and malfeasance in public service.
