The Kidwaipuri building in which Anil Kumar Sinha’s flat is located. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Sleuths of the Economic Offence Unit (EOU) on Thursday carried out simultaneous raids at the office and residential addresses of superintendent of excise department Anil Kumar Sinha.

Sinha, who was posted at Sitamarhi, has been charged with committing irregularities in the settlement of country-made liquor shops.

The EOU team, led by superintendent of police Ashok Kumar, started a search at Kidwaipuri residence of Sinha at 7.30 am. Another team raided Sinha’s office at Sitamarhi and seized documents related of settlement of liquor shops in the district for 2012-13.

“The documents seized during the raid are being scrutinised,” said additional director-general (headquarters) Ravinder Kumar.

Director-general of police Abhayanand under whose supervision the EOU functions, said that the raids were conducted at the excise superintendent’s office and residence in Patna after obtaining warrant from the court.

The EOU had earlier lodged a case (No.02/12) against Sinha and three others on the recommendation of joint commissioner of excise department Navin Kumar Mishra.

Besides Sinha, Neelu Devi, Gaurishanker Choudhary and Jitendra Singh (all applicants) have been charged under sections 420, 465, 468, 471 and 120 (B) of Indian Penal Code. Earlier, the joint commissioner had ordered a departmental inquiry following complaints by some residents with regard to settlement of liquor shops.

Authoritative sources said Sinha was suspended after the allegations against him were found to be true. The ADG (headquarters), however, did not rule out the possibility of institution of disproportionate assets case against Sinha.

Sources said Sinha was a member of the committee assigned for allotment of liquor shops. A three-member committee headed by Vinod Kumar Jha, excise superintendent, Patna, visited Sitamarhi on March 19 and inquired about the complaints. Sinha rejected the allegations levelled against him, said sources.

This is the second major operation carried out by the EOU after its constitution early this year. Earlier, in February, the unit carried out raids in connection with alleged financial irregularities in Indira Awas Yojana scheme.

The EOU is a separate section of police department to deal with the cases of economic offences and cyber crime in the state. It is headed by an inspector-general-rank officer works under the control of the director-general of police.