Patna/Darbhanga, March 13: In a major crackdown, sleuths of the newly established Economic Offences Unit (EOU) at the state police headquarters carried out simultaneous raids at the residences of 17 government officials, including three block development officers, in seven districts on Tuesday.

The public servants, whose offices and residential premises were searched, have been charged with siphoning of funds of Centre-sponsored Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) to the tune of Rs 2 crore under Singhwara block in Darbhanga district from 2006-07 to 2010-11.

The houses of a mukhiya (village head) of Harpur panchayat under Singhwara block in Darbhanga district and three middlemen were also raided.

The present block development officer of Narhat of Nawada district, Narendra Kumar Karn, has been detained for interrogation.

He had been charged with embezzlement of IAY funds in Singhwara block of Darbhanga between 2006 and 2011.

During this period, around Rs 2 crore meant for IAY was siphoned off by government officials. Apart from government officials, panchayat sevaks, the village head of Harpur panchayat under Singhwara block, Domo Paswan and some middlemen are said to be involved in the scam.

The team also conducted raids at Karn’s residence at Katharia colony under Sadar block of the district.

The EOU team, led by superintendent of police Ashok Kumar Singh, carried out raids on residences of 10 other officials involved in financial irregularities during five financial years.

A case was registered with EOU in this connec- tion early this year against 15 persons, including three block development officers, panchayat-level public representatives and middlemen.

The teams of EOU also conducted raids on residences of 10 other government officials posted in other blocks, middlemen, and public representatives at the panchayat-level under Singhawara block of Darbhanga.

Director-general of police (DGP) Abhayanand said simultaneous raids were conducted at 17 places in Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Katihar, Samastipur and Nawada districts.

“Documents related to gross financial irregularities in the IAY and movable and immovable property of the accused have been seized in the raids,” he added.