Bihar turns a new leaf, corrupt babu's house to be a school

Author: Faizan Ahmad
Publication: The Times of India
Date: August 21, 2011

Chief minister Nitish Kumar's promise to confiscate the ill-gotten properties of officials and to open schools for poor children in their palatial houses is close to becoming a reality.

With the Patna high court upholding the designated court's May order to confiscate the multi-storied building of suspended IAS officer Shiv Shankar Verma, decks seem to have been cleared for this purpose. "The judicial order gives a big boost to Bihar government's war on corruption," said JD (U) state spokesman Sanjay Singh.

In May, the designated court had directed Patna district magistrate to take possession of Verma's house. Confirming this, Patna DM Sanjay Kumar Singh said, "The properties of Verma are already confiscated. I had been directed by the vigilance court in May to take possession of them after giving one month's time to the party. Then there was HC stay on the designated court's order, which has now been vacated. But I am yet to receive the order."

On July 6, 2007, sleuths of Special Vigilance Unit raided Verma's houses and found movable and immovable properties, roughly estimated to be worth Rs 1.43 crore, which were disproportionate to his known sources of income. Verma, who was then secretary in the minor irrigation department, was suspended.

A vigilance officer said the designated courts had so far ordered confiscation of properties in five cases. Three of these orders were passed in July.

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