A major action by Bihar's Economic Offences Unit triggered shockwaves on Tuesday after a series of raids at the properties of Kishanganj Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Gautam Kumar exposed illegal assets worth several crores. Teams conducted searches at around half a dozen locations linked to the SDPO, uncovering extensive benami wealth which included land parcels, luxury vehicles and investment documents.
Sources revealed that investigators found a tea estate in Siliguri, flats in Noida and Gurgaon, and more than 25 land plots. Officials also seized jewellery, cars and property papers registered in the names of his wife and a woman friend. The raids were initiated after authorities detected assets worth over Rs 1.94 crore that were disproportionate to his known income, following which a case was registered in Patna and court orders were obtained for the searches.
What the raids revealed
Officials found that Gautam Kumar had allegedly accumulated properties not just in his own name but also through associates. Preliminary investigation traced at least 25 land plots, several of which were registered in the names of his wife Poonam Devi and his woman associate Shagufta Shameem. From the residence of Shagufta Shameem alone, seven land-related documents valued at nearly Rs 60 lakh were recovered.
A four-storey house spread across 3,600 square feet in Purnea, estimated to be worth around Rs 2.5 crore, was among the major recoveries. Luxury watches and high-end vehicles including a Creta and a Thar were seized. Documents related to the setting up of a nursing home in Patna were also found during the searches.
Officials said he had invested in a tea plantation in Siliguri and had purchased property in Noida and Gurgaon. Papers indicating insurance investments and several other financial documents were also recovered from various locations.
From his government residence in Kishanganj, teams seized Rs 1.37 lakh in cash. The raid lasted nearly eight hours and officials confiscated his mobile phone, which is expected to provide more crucial evidence.
Panic among local officials
Following the action, a sense of unease prevailed among government staff in Kishanganj. Several officials were seen passing by the SDPO's residence throughout the day, attempting to gather updates on the developments.
SDPO Gautam Kumar's long association with Kishanganj
It is worth noting that Gautam Kumar has been associated with Kishanganj for many years. He joined the Bihar Police as a sub-inspector in the 1994 batch. His first posting as a trainee officer in 1996 was in Kishanganj, where he also completed his probation. After serving in other districts, he returned to Kishanganj in 2012-13 as a mobile police officer. He later rose to the rank of inspector and then DSP. In 2023, he once again took charge as SDPO of the district. A significant part of his service has been spent in the Seemanchal region covering Kishanganj, Araria, Purnea and Katihar.
(Inputs from Rajesh Dubey)
