By Vishwapati
Patna: The Building Construction Department of the Bihar government once again made headlines — this time not for good reasons, but instead over allegations of corruption against its Chief Engineer. In another development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is raiding the premises of the department’s Chief Engineer, Tarini Das, and crores of rupees have been recovered. A machine that counts notes has been brought in to calculate the amount seized.
The ED team reached Das’s house in Purnendu Nagar and has begun a search. The doors have been shut, and the work continues within. Raids are also being conducted in several of his relatives’ homes, reports indicate. It is said to be related to a tender scam and is linked to a case against IAS officer Sanjeev Hans.
Scrutiny of Controversial Reappointment
Concerns have been expressed over the reappointment of Tarini Das as Chief Engineer in haste a few months after he retired. Das retired at the end of October 2024 from the post of Chief Engineer (North) but the Building Construction Department immediately took him back on a two-year contract in the same capacity. He was later also made Chief General Manager in the corporation.
Minister Jayant Raj’s Checkered Past
Jayant Raj, the current Minister of the Building Construction Department, had faced such controversies before. A superintending engineer, Anil Kumar, was caught with unaccounted cash when he was the rural works department minister in the 2020-22 NDA government.
Kumar’s car was intercepted in the Fakuli area by the Muzaffarpur police on August 28, 2021. Search of the vehicle revealed ₹18 lakh and a raid at his Patna home was conducted to find ₹49 lakh, accumulating to ₹67 lakh. Kumar had even audaciously threatened the police: “If I open my mouth, there will be an explosion in Bihar.” He was first freed in October 2021 after posting a personal recognisance (PR) bond, however, he was arrested in February 2022 when cops said he was not providing them with satisfactory answers when interviewed.
Outrage Over Delayed Suspension
Despite recovering such a significant amount, the Rural Works Department had delayed suspending Kumar by three months. The matter was later taken up in the Bihar Assembly where BJP MLA Sanjay Saraogi accused the government of protecting the corrupt officials. The inaction proved very embarrassing, as Minister Jayant Raj struggled to defend it. Ultimate suspension of Kumar was followed by an inquiry by the House Committee ordered by the Speaker.
(The author, Vishwapati, is a senior journalist based in Patna. He may be contacted at vishwapati25@gmail.com)
