The Samrat Chaudhary-led BJP government in Bihar seems to be getting tough on corruption as it suspended two IAS officers—Yogesh Kumar Sagar (IAS: 2017:BH) and Abhilasha Kumari Sharma (IAS: 2014:BH)—in the tender scam case.
The govt’s decision to suspend the duo on Saturday came three days after the state police’s Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) raided the premises of contract mafia Rishu Shree in Patna on May 27, following which Rishu was arrested on Thursday and produced before the Special Vigilance Court, from where he was sent to Beur Central Jail on 14 days of judicial custody.
Rishu was accused of manipulating govt tenders and exerting undue influence over official decisions when the duo served in the urban development and housing department and the Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (BUIDCO).
While Yogesh Kumar Sagar served as Managing Director of Buidco from March 7, 2024, to Feb 17, 2025, Abhilasha Kumari Sharma exercised administrative authority over it through her concurrent posting as joint secretary in the urban development and housing department, Buidco’s parent department.
According to the investigating agencies, Rishu used to collude with senior department officials to insert highly specific eligibility clauses into tender drafts to disqualify competitors and grab contracts for his firm or associates. He allegedly ran a fixed commission network, charging 8% to 10% of contract value as “speed money,” with a significant portion distributed as bribes for swift clearances and inflated billing.
Investigation revealed that tender mafia Rishu used to fund lavish lifestyles and foreign tours of the IAS officers. The ED investigation revealed Rishu, a Patna-based contractor, took IAS officer Yogesh Kumar Sagar and his eight relatives on an eight-day Europe trip from June 22, 2024, to June 30, 2024.
Similarly, as per investigators, Rishu also financed the luxury renovation of a rooftop garden at the residence of Abhilasha Kumari Sharma and gifted premium consumer electronics to the officer and paid for trips undertaken by her relatives. The case file also mentioned iPhones and other expensive gifts allegedly given to her.
In an earlier ED raid on March 27 last year, Rs 12 crore in cash was recovered from the residences of senior engineers and bureaucrats, including chief engineer Tarini Das. The ED said the money represented kickbacks and bribe shares paid by Rishu to clear pending bills and secure lucrative tenders.
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