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Ranchi, Feb. 5: Jharkhand High Court today directed the state to file a status report on investigations against a junior engineer of Koderma, accused of amassing wealth in excess of his known sources of income.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Prakash Tatia and Justice Alok Kumar Singh issued the directive while hearing a PIL filed by Durga Oraon alleging that Vivekanand Choudhary had acquired wealth by misusing his official position of junior engineer in the rural works department.
In an affidavit filed before the court, the income tax department confirmed the allegations made by Oraon on behalf of his NGO, Jharkhand Against Corruption, and said investigations had revealed that Choudhary had amassed enormous wealth and assets through unfair means.
The IT department counsel told the court that Choudhary belonged to the X category of investigations meant for those with disproportionate wealth of more than Rs 1 crore.
The income tax deputy director (investigation) said in his report that Choudhary owned seven luxury buses that were plying between Koderma and Ranchi.
Investigations also revealed that Choudhary had 14 bank accounts in Nawada (Bihar) and 10 bank accounts in Ranchi. He also owned houses and property at prime locations in Bangalore, Nawada, Ranchi and Patna, the IT counsel said.
The vigilance bureau which was also investigating the case also confirmed the allegations made against Choudhary.
The bureau informed the court that it had conducted a preliminary inquiry against the junior engineer and was now waiting to hear from the cabinet vigilance committee for further instructions.
In his PIL, Oraon has alleged that Choudhary, while he was posted in Koderma, acquired wealth to the tune of Rs 2.2 crore which was way above his legitimate income.
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