Patna, Sep 16 (IANS) The Vigilance Investigation Bureau on Wednesday conducted simultaneous searches at three premises linked to Satyendra Kumar Chaudhary, Superintending Engineer in the Purnea Division of Bihar’s Building Construction Department, in connection with a disproportionate assets case.
According to the Vigilance Department, searches at two residential premises in Patna and an office-cum-residential premises in Purnea led to the recovery of documents and records relating to investments and movable and immovable assets allegedly worth crores of rupees.
A case has been registered against Chaudhary under Vigilance Police Station Case No. 109/26, dated September 14, 2026, under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018.
The Vigilance Department has alleged that Chaudhary amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, amounting to Rs 1,97,58,070.
According to the FIR, seven immovable properties have been identified in the names of Chaudhary, his wife Usha Devi and other family members.
The properties were allegedly purchased between 2011 and 2025 in the names of the alleged officer, his wife and his mother-in-law.
The properties include a large residential property with a constructed house in Phulwari Sharif, four land parcels in Naubatpur measuring approximately 74 decimals in total, and a land parcel in Danapur measuring around 7.18 decimals.
The total value of the identified immovable properties has been estimated at Rs 3,60,58,070, while movable assets have been valued at approximately Rs 26 lakh.
According to the Vigilance Department, the assets are around 68 per cent higher than Chaudhary’s known income.
During the searches, officials reportedly found a large five-storey house in Phulwari Sharif equipped with a lift and solar panels.
The property reportedly contains expensive furniture and around 10 air conditioners.
The Vigilance Department said a formal valuation of the Phulwari Sharif property would be carried out.
A three-storey joint house in AG Colony will also undergo formal valuation.
Other items and records recovered or identified during the searches, including cash amounting to Rs 1 lakh, gold, silver and diamond jewellery, which is undergoing formal valuation, documents relating to the seven immovable properties listed in the FIR, a large volume of records concerning investments in banks and LIC, a Hyundai car, and information regarding a flat in Greater Noida, are being investigated.
The Vigilance Investigation Bureau obtained search warrants from the Special Court (Vigilance), Patna, before conducting the searches.
Three Vigilance teams from Patna were subsequently deployed to the three premises linked to Chaudhary—two residences in Patna and an office-cum-residential premises in Purnea.
Officials said the searches were still underway and were expected to continue late into the night.
The seized documents, investment records and other material will be examined as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Vigilance Department said further details regarding the searches, valuation of the properties and subsequent action would be provided after the operation and preliminary assessment are completed.
–IANS
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