Bihar Vigilance raided rural works department engineer in disproportionate assets case
Representative image | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
The Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) on Thursday (October 15, 2026) conducted simultaneous raids at four locations of the Executive Engineer of the Rural Works Department at Chhapra, Patna, Katihar and Darjeeling in connection with a case of accumulation of disproportionate assets (DA) to his known sources of income.
The authority registered a DA case against Rural Works Department Executive Engineer Chandra Shekhar Singh, whose four places were raided and searched. Mr. Singh is posted in the Quality Testing Department at Chhapra, the district headquarters of Saran.
A special security team searched the ministry’s office in Chhapra, Flat No. 103 of Vamika Apartment on Jagdev Path in Patna, his residential house in Lohiya Nagar, Katihar and a private plot in Phansidewi Police Station area of Darjeeling district in West Bengal. The raids continued until late evening.
During the searches conducted so far, the vigilance team recovered ₹3 crore in cash from his flat in Patna and ₹2,000 from his house in Katihar. Gold and silver jewelery weighing approximately 250 grams was also found at his Katihar residence.
The amount of chattels suspected of being illegally acquired may increase after the searches are completed.
According to the vigilance investigation, Mr. Singh is accused of possessing illegal assets worth ₹1.10 crore, which is in excess of his known sources of income.
On October 13, 2026, an FIR (No. 121/2026) was registered in this connection at the Vigilance police station. The case was registered according to § 13 paragraph 2 as amended by § 13 paragraph 1 letter b) Act on Prevention of Corruption from 1988, as amended from 2018.
During a search of his Katihar residence, investigators reportedly found documents related to the purchase of 92 decimals (31 kathas) of land in the Phansidewi police station area of Darjeeling district in the name of his wife Shweta Kumari.
The land was purchased in several parcels, especially all during the same year 2021.
The area where the plot is located is considered a posh locality in Darjeeling and lies along the national highway. There is also a three-star hotel near the building. The market value of the land is said to be estimated at crores of rupees. Its true market value is currently being assessed.
In the asset return submitted to the government for the financial year 2025-26, Chandra Shekhar Singh is said to have not disclosed any details of this land (31 Kathas). The matter is being investigated separately.
Documents related to other properties, bank accounts and jewelery were also reportedly found during the vigilance bureau’s investigation. They are currently being investigated.
The total value of the alleged illegal assets will be clear only after the preliminary investigation and search operations are completed.
Published – 16 Oct 2026 09:20 IST