EOU raids 6 premises linked to Keoti BDO in DA case; seizes documents, freezes Rs 10 lakh

Patna: The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) on Wednesday conducted simultaneous raids at six locations linked to Chandramohan Paswan, block development officer (BDO) of Keoti in Darbhanga district, in connection with a disproportionate assets case.

The searches were carried out in Darbhanga and Madhubani districts following allegations that Paswan amassed assets beyond his known sources of income. The action was taken after a search warrant was issued by the Special Vigilance Court, Muzaffarpur.

An FIR was registered against Paswan on May 26 under Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended in 2018).

A resident of Madhubani, Paswan joined the rural development department as a rural development officer in 2013 and has served in Sitamarhi, Samastipur and Darbhanga districts.

Preliminary investigation indicates that he accumulated assets worth Rs89.13 lakh in excess of his known income, which is about 81.03% higher than his legitimate earnings.

EOU teams, led by DSPs, searched his ancestral house in Baunsi (Madhubani), residence in Bahadurpur (Darbhanga), a shop at GT Mall in Ramnagar, a clinic building at GT Healthcare in Babubarhi (Madhubani), his official residence in Keoti block and the block office.

EOU DIG Manavjit Singh Dhillon said documents related to land purchases, details of 10 bank accounts in the names of Paswan and his family members, eight LIC policies with annual premiums of around Rs2 lakh, two vehicles, and jewellery purchase receipts were recovered. Around Rs10 lakh deposited in various bank accounts has been frozen.

Paswan is currently constructing additional floors at his Bahadurpur residence. During his service tenure, he also built residential and commercial properties in Madhubani and Darbhanga, which are under evaluation.

The DIG said further investigation may reveal additional disproportionate assets. The rural development department has been informed about the case and alleged lapses by the public servant.