ED attaches Rs 6 crore assets of Srijan scam accused

PATNA: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday provisionally attached property worth Rs 6.85 crore of dismissed additional district magistrate (ADM) of Bhagalpur, Jayshree Thakur, and her family members.
Action against Thakur was taken under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. Thakur’s name had earlier figured in the multi-crore Srijan scam, which led to her dismissal from service in August 2017.
In a statement, the central investigating agency said the attached assets were in the form of balance in 42 bank accounts, 15 plots of land, one flat and maturity value of 15 insurance policies.
The 15 plots of land and the flat have the total consideration value of Rs 1.54 crore, while the surrender value of 15 insurance policies is Rs 26 lakh. The rest amount of Rs 5.05 crore was in the 42 bank accounts.
The ED initiated a probe against Thakur following a disproportionate assets case lodged by the Bihar police’s Economic Offences Unit (EOU) in 2013.
The EOU had accused the then ADM of Bhagalpur and land acquisition officer of Banka district of accumulating disproportionate assets worth Rs 13.98 crore between January 1987 and June 2013.
Thakur, who was holding the charge of land acquisition officer of neighbouring Banka district, had a unique modus operandi. She helped her acquaintances purchase land at a low price in a particular area.
The same land was later acquired by the government at much higher rate in the name of development projects. Thus, she earned ill wealth by abusing her official position and corrupt practices.
The state government acted tough when her name cropped up in the Srijan scam. She had deposited a huge amount in the cooperative bank run by an NGO, Srijan Mahila Vikas Sahyog Samiti, at Bhagalpur.
Initially, she was put under suspension. But later the government dismissed her from service after searches were carried out on her residential premises.
She had amassed wealth in her name and that of her husband Rajesh Choudhary, son Rishikesh Choudhary and daughter Rajshree.