EOU team to probe tender irregularities, mining scam

Patna: Bihar’s Economic Offences Unit (EOU) has constituted a special team to investigate irregularities in govt tender processes. Led by a superintendent of police-rank officer, the five-member team will examine complaints related to tender invitations and allocations while also pursuing several ongoing investigations into financial fraud.

During its probe, the unit has uncovered a major illegal mining scam that allegedly caused a loss of around Rs 350 crore to the govt. Officials said the mining department’s software portal was manipulated to bypass OTP authentication and capping limits in collusion with licence holders across 17 districts.

The EOU is currently monitoring 62 FIRs registered in connection with the alleged manipulation of the mining software portal. Officials said licence holders, in connivance with deputed officers, tampered with the system and bypassed capping provisions to illegally increase mining limits, leading to substantial revenue loss. A cyber police case registered in Patna in Oct 2025 in connection with the matter is also under investigation.

Addressing media persons at police headquarters on Friday, EOU SP Pankaj Kumar said, “The EOU is investigating a case of embezzlement of Rs 101 crore from the Awami Cooperative Bank, Pirbahore (Patna), and Vaishali (Urban) Govt Cooperative Bank.

“Action is being taken to monitor the investigation of a total of 62 FIRs registered on the basis of causing massive loss to the revenue of the mining department by illegally increasing capping by approximately 100 licencees by bypassing the provisions of adjudication. It has come to light that govt revenue has been lost in this fraud.”

Investigators have also uncovered a conspiracy involving bank officials in connection with the alleged embezzlement. According to officials, branch managers, loan officers and other employees allegedly colluded to sanction illegal loans in 2025 to siphon off govt funds. Charge sheets have been filed against the main accused, Syed Shahnawaz Wajeeh, then manager of Awami Cooperative Bank, and Rajnikant alias Gopal Prasad, while supplementary investigation is continuing.

The EOU has also taken action in a question paper leak case linked to Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) exams. “The unit has been actively taking action against various financial scams and exam paper leaks in the state. In a recent operation, the EOU has arrested Sarfaraz Shahid, also known as Jannat Bhaiya, for allegedly leaking question papers of BSEB exams,” Kumar said.

According to investigators, Shahid allegedly ran an online and offline coaching institute named Point of Study and sold question papers for classes 3 to 8 through an online channel after collecting money via UPI or QR code.

In another case, Kumar said, “Executive engineer of North Bihar Power Distribution Corporation Limited (NBPDCL) Manoj Kumar Rajak was found to have accumulated disproportionate assets, including 31 land deeds, a tea garden, and property in Nepal.”

Officials added that two cases involving assets worth around Rs 21 crore have been referred to the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).