PATNA: 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 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.
Recently, Nitish had said that he was waiting for the day when courts would order confiscation of properties of corrupt officials. "It will really be a historic day," he had said. That day no longer seems to be far.
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 last to take possession of them after giving one month's time to the party. Then there was high court stay on the designated court's order which has now been vacated. But I am yet to receive the high court order."
The development comes at a time when the entire nation is gripped by an anti-corruption crusade launched by Gandhian Anna Hazare.
Sleuths of Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) had raided Verma's houses on July 6, 2007, and found huge 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.
The SVU sleuths had recovered nine kgs of gold, cash and foreign currency, and papers related to land and houses. The gold was then estimated to be valued at Rs 80.78 lakh, which, at today's price of Rs 28,150 per 10 gram, is now valued at Rs 2.53 crore.
A top vigilance source said the designated courts had so far ordered confiscation of properties in five cases. Three of these orders were passed in July last. "But Verma is the first case in which the appeal against designated court's order has been rejected by the high court," the source said. "The DM will be the custodian of the confiscated properties," he added.
Verma is one of the many civil servants and police officials who are in the vigilance net. There are many against whom DA cases have been either lodged or are in the process of being filed.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/School-likely-in-IAS-officers-palatial-house/articleshow/9675649.cms
"The judicial order gives a big boost to Bihar government's war on corruption," said JD (U) state spokesman Sanjay Singh.
Recently, Nitish had said that he was waiting for the day when courts would order confiscation of properties of corrupt officials. "It will really be a historic day," he had said. That day no longer seems to be far.
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 last to take possession of them after giving one month's time to the party. Then there was high court stay on the designated court's order which has now been vacated. But I am yet to receive the high court order."
The development comes at a time when the entire nation is gripped by an anti-corruption crusade launched by Gandhian Anna Hazare.
Sleuths of Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) had raided Verma's houses on July 6, 2007, and found huge 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.
The SVU sleuths had recovered nine kgs of gold, cash and foreign currency, and papers related to land and houses. The gold was then estimated to be valued at Rs 80.78 lakh, which, at today's price of Rs 28,150 per 10 gram, is now valued at Rs 2.53 crore.
A top vigilance source said the designated courts had so far ordered confiscation of properties in five cases. Three of these orders were passed in July last. "But Verma is the first case in which the appeal against designated court's order has been rejected by the high court," the source said. "The DM will be the custodian of the confiscated properties," he added.
Verma is one of the many civil servants and police officials who are in the vigilance net. There are many against whom DA cases have been either lodged or are in the process of being filed.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/School-likely-in-IAS-officers-palatial-house/articleshow/9675649.cms
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