ED Intensifies Bihar Contractor-Bureaucratic Nexus Probe

New Delhi, Jun 13 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate has recently intensified its probe into an alleged contractor-bureaucrats nexus in Bihar through fresh searches, centered around suspected irregularities in government-issued tenders.

On Thursday, the ED conducted raids across nine locations, including Patna and Muzaffarpur in Bihar, Surat in Gujarat, and Panipat in Haryana. These operations were carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and are linked to Patna-based contractor Rishu Shree, as stated by the federal investigation agency.

During the raids, several "incriminating" documents and pieces of evidence were confiscated from certain individuals and travel agents associated with the contractor.

This money laundering investigation originated from an FIR filed by the Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) of the Bihar government against Rishu Shree and others.

The contractor's companies reportedly engage in contract and sub-contract works for various Bihar government departments such as water resources, health, public health engineering, urban development, Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCO), education, building and construction, and rural works.

It is alleged that the contractor has formed a "nexus" with multiple government officials to facilitate the awarding of tenders for "illicit" personal benefits, according to the ED.

In March, the agency undertook similar raids on certain government officials linked to this case, which resulted in the seizure of Rs 11.64 crore.

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