Bihar tender scam: ED summons seven IAS officers, including senior bureaucrats

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned seven Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, including senior bureaucrats, in connection with a multi-crore tender scam in Bihar. The summoned officials comprise an Additional Chief Secretary-rank officer, two Principal Secretary-rank officers, three Secretary-rank officers, and a retired officer whose specific rank was not detailed. Investigators are examining their alleged links to an arrested high-profile contractor who allegedly managed government tenders for private agencies.

The investigation centers on allegations of irregularities in government tenders worth several crores of rupees and money laundering involving a company owned by the arrested contractor. According to reports, confidential technical information was allegedly leaked before bidding to secure contracts, and tender conditions were reportedly tailored to favor specific entities. Authorities are also investigating whether senior officials received bribes or financial inducements.

The case originated from an FIR registered in 2023 at the Rupaspur police station in Patna, after which the Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) of the Bihar Police and the ED initiated probes. The recent ED summons followed observations by the Patna High Court questioning whether key conspirators were operating behind the scenes. Meanwhile, the state government has suspended two IAS officers, and the SVU filed a chargesheet naming seven individuals.

Not yet reported: The exact total financial amount of the scam and the final court judgments or outcomes for the accused officials and contractor are not reported.