Bihar Government Revokes Suspension of IAS Officer Sanjeev Hans, Assigns New Role After Jail Term

In a move that has stirred fresh debate in administrative and political circles, the Bihar government has revoked the suspension of senior IAS officer Sanjeev Hans and reassigned him to active service, nearly ten months after he was sent to judicial custody in connection with serious criminal and corruption-related allegations.

A 1997-batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre, Hans was arrested in October 2024 following an Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into alleged disproportionate assets and financial irregularities amounting to nearly ₹100 crore. He had also faced grave allegations, including a gang rape charge, which had sent shockwaves through the state’s bureaucracy and political establishment.

According to the latest government notification, Hans has been appointed Additional Member of the Bihar Revenue Council, a key institution that plays a crucial role in land administration and policy matters in the state. With this order, his suspension—imposed after his arrest—has formally been withdrawn.

Allegations and Investigation

While serving as Principal Secretary in the Energy Department, Hans was accused of amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income and of large-scale irregularities in the tendering process for prepaid smart electricity meters. The ED claimed that the alleged scam involved transactions worth around ₹100 crore and filed a voluminous chargesheet running into nearly 20,000 pages.

Following his arrest, Hans was lodged in Patna’s Beur Jail, where he spent close to ten months in judicial custody.

Bail from High Court

In October 2025, the Patna High Court granted Hans conditional bail, citing certain technical deficiencies in the prosecution’s evidence. However, the court imposed restrictions, including a ban on foreign travel, and clarified that the bail did not amount to an exoneration from the charges.

Soon after the bail order, speculation began over the possible revocation of his suspension—speculation that has now materialized.

From Engineer to Controversial Bureaucrat

Born on October 19, 1973, in Punjab, Sanjeev Hans is a civil engineering graduate who entered the Indian Administrative Service after clearing the UPSC examination. During his career, he has served as District Magistrate in multiple districts and held influential positions, including Managing Director in the Energy Department.

His return to a prominent administrative role, despite ongoing legal proceedings, has sparked sharp reactions, with critics questioning the timing and propriety of the decision, while supporters argue that bail entitles an officer to restoration of service under existing rules.

The development has once again brought the spotlight on the delicate balance between legal process, administrative ethics, and public accountability in India’s civil services.