Aditya Vaibhav | Team TrickyScribe: A sensational expose by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has uncovered a massive web of corruption involving Rishu Shree, a private contractor, and senior Bihar government officials, most notably IAS officer Sanjeev Hans, former Secretary of the Water Resources Department (WRD) the report of which was submitted to the Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) by a Joint Director-level ED official earlier in April.
Team TrickyScribe accessed the EXPCUSIVE copy of the FIR that lays bare an organized racket of tender manipulation, bribery, and laundering of public money through shell companies and fake subcontracts.
Manipulating Government Tenders for Profit
At the heart of the scam lies systematic rigging of government tenders. The ED’s report reveals that Rishu Shree, using his high-level connections, secured critical information before tenders were floated.
Specifications were tweaked to favor companies within his network. In return, Shree collected commissions ranging between 8–10% of contract values, ensuring a cut for colluding officials at every level.
Water Resources Department Project: A Case Study in Corruption
One glaring instance involves a ₹125 crore project for setting up a Physical Modelling Centre in Supaul. The tender was awarded to M/s Chevrox Constructions Pvt. Ltd., only to be subcontracted to Matriswa Infra Pvt. Ltd., a company secretly funded and controlled by Rishu Shree. This strategic positioning ensured inflated bills, fake expenses, and cash generation to bribe senior officials, including then WRD Secretary Sanjeev Hans.
Cash Trails and Bribe Ledgers
During raids on Matriswa Infra’s offices, ED officials seized handwritten sheets detailing bribe disbursements. In damning revelations, Pawan Kumar, director of Matriswa Infra, admitted under questioning that ₹67 lakh was handed over in cash to “S Sir” — a codename for Sanjeev Hans. Further, a ₹50 lakh transaction from Matriswa Infra’s HDFC Bank account to Kamalkant Gupta was identified as another kickback routed to Hans.
Illicit Deals and Personal Favours
Beyond financial corruption, the investigation uncovers a murky trail of personal misconduct. ED found that Sanjeev Hans allegedly provided monthly payments of ₹2 lakh to one Gayatri Kumari through intermediaries, and gifted her a ₹1 crore flat in Lucknow, funded indirectly through Rishu Shree’s companies. Financial records show direct cash flows from Reliable Infra Services Pvt. Ltd. to Gayatri Kumari’s handlers.
Urban Development Projects: A Parallel Empire of Graft
Evidence points to deep-rooted corruption not just within WRD, but also in Bihar’s Urban Development and Housing Department. Projects such as Bihar Sharif STP, Muzaffarpur STP, and Smart Road initiatives were similarly compromised. Inflated bills disguised as ‘miscellaneous expenses’ were nothing but systematic bribes to senior and junior officials.
Massive Wealth Accumulation Beyond Legal Means
The scale of Rishu Shree’s illegal fortune is staggering. ED officials unearthed 61 sale deeds with a circle value of ₹58.58 crore. His asset portfolio boasts luxury vehicles like Porsche Macan, BMWs, and a Land Cruiser, alongside investments in Delhi-NCR real estate and multiple petrol pumps in Bihar — all amassed in a mere 7–8 years.
Dubai Connections and Suspected Money Laundering
Adding an international dimension to the scam, intelligence inputs suggest Rishu Shree acted as a proxy for corrupt officials, investing their black money in overseas properties. Frequent and extended stays in Dubai and Europe by Shree have raised serious suspicions of laundering illicit wealth beyond Indian borders.
Violation of Official Secrets Act
Perhaps most chillingly, forensic analysis of digital devices seized from Rishu Shree revealed confidential government documents — exposing a grave breach of the Official Secrets Act. The possession of sensitive files related to policy decisions and tender details further cements the scale of collusion between private operators and bureaucrats.
Charges and the Way Forward
The Special Vigilance Unit (SVU), Bihar, based on ED’s findings, has recommended filing cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Official Secrets Act, and sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023. Accused include Rishu Shree, IAS officer Sanjeev Hans, and their close associates. The investigation is expected to widen as more names of complicit government officials emerge.
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