ED Tightens Scrutiny on Two Bihar IAS Officers; Suspicion of Unaccounted Wealth

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its probe into two Bihar cadre IAS officers, raising serious concerns about alleged money laundering and unaccounted wealth. The officers under scrutiny are Abhilasha Kumari Sharma (2014 batch) and Yogesh Kumar Sagar (2017 batch).

ED Seeks FIR to Launch Formal Investigation

In a recent development, the ED formally requested the Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) of the Bihar government to register an FIR against both officers. This step paves the way for the central agency to file its Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

Alleged Financial Irregularities

According to sources in the vigilance department, the ED’s letter, received on 26 November, spans 5-6 pages detailing suspicious financial activities linked to the officers. The correspondence cites a company named Rishu Shri, allegedly the source of undue benefits extended to the officers.

A notable allegation involves IAS Yogesh Kumar Sagar, whose trip to Austria reportedly cost around ₹15 lakh, allegedly funded by the same company. The letter points to various instances of money laundering and illicit acceptance of benefits while holding different positions in the Bihar government.

Previous High-Profile Cases

The scrutiny comes in the wake of similar high-profile cases, including IAS Sanjeev Hans (1997 batch), who faced allegations of acquiring assets disproportionate to income through the same company. Hans was arrested in October 2024 and later granted bail by the Patna High Court.

Confirmation from SVU

SVU ADG Pankaj Darad confirmed receiving the ED’s letter regarding the two officers. “The letter contains allegations of money laundering among other charges. Since it was received directly rather than through the usual channels, we forwarded it to the department secretary for further action,” he told Times of India.

Yogesh Kumar Sagar is currently serving as Joint Secretary in the Department of Social Welfare, while Abhilasha Kumari Sharma continues her tenure in the Bihar administration. The investigation is ongoing, and further updates are expected in the coming weeks.