Bhagalpur, July 15: Authorities in Banka and Bhagalpur have set up teams to probe alleged large-scale irregularities by Bhagalpur additional district magistrate (ADM) Jayashree Thakur during her tenure as Banka district land acquisition officer.

Recent raids by the economic offence unit (EOU) at Thakur’s house showed that the 1996 cadre state administrative service officer allegedly accumulated huge property and wealth beyond her known sources of income.

Banka district magistrate (DM) Deepak Anand has constituted a three-member probe committee consisting of three senior district officials who have been asked to submit a report by July 17.

Bhagalpur divisional commissioner Minaz Alam told reporters that the team, constituted under his direction, would probe alleged irregularities — as highlighted during EOU’s raids — by Thakur during her tenure as Banka land acquisition officer. Banka deputy development commissioner Ramesh Kumar Ranjan will head the team and coordinate probe work.

Bhagalpur district magistrate Prem Singh Meena has directed Bhagalpur senior deputy collector Sudhir Kumar and district cooperative officer Pankaj Kumar Jha to investigate the affairs of Srijan Mahila Sahyoj Samity Ltd in Bhagalpur where the district land acquisition office deposited a cheque worth Rs 7.32 crore in the name of Thakur on June 14. Thakur had opened an account with the Samity on June 12 by depositing Rs 2,500 in cash.        

Meena was not available for comment but sources said that the senior ADM, Sudhir Kumar, has begun probing different aspects of this episode. They are to probe how banking activity was carried on by the Sabour-based voluntary organisation and examine details of accounts held with the Samity including one that the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) held before the Bhagalpur DM closed it in 2007.

EOU officials also suspect large-scale irregularities by some government offices and foul play by some nationalised and other banks in transferring government funds. Banka DM Deepak Anand was not available for comment but sources in his office said that the probe team has started work from today. A source at Banka claimed that Thakur, during her tenure as land acquisition officer, Banka, used her influence to jack up rates of plots for the purpose of acquisition for railway and other proposed industries.