D Chargesheet: Sanjeev Hans Allegedly Amassed ₹100 Crore in Assets Through Fraud and Bribery

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a comprehensive prosecution complaint against Sanjeev Hans, a 1997-batch IAS officer from the Bihar cadre, accusing him of amassing assets worth ₹100 crore through a web of fraud and bribery during his tenure.

Key Allegations

1. Kickbacks and Bribe Route:
   • Hans allegedly received a ₹60 crore bribe from Genus Power Infrastructures Limited, which secured contracts worth over ₹3,800 crore for smart meter installations from Bihar’s power companies (2022–2023).
   • Bribes were reportedly routed through subcontracting arrangements with firms controlled by Hans’s associates.
2. Luxury Assets and Lavish Lifestyle:
   • The ED seized 15 luxury watches, ₹40 lakh in value, and over 1,100 grams of gold during raids on Hans’s properties.
   • Immoveable assets, including a ₹10 crore flat in Delhi’s Anand Niketan, were allegedly acquired using laundered money.
3. Financial Diversions and Laundering:
   • The ED traced ₹6 crore in 70 bank accounts linked to Hans and his family.
   • Proceeds of the crime were allegedly invested in the stock market and high-value properties across cities like Delhi, Jaipur, and Nagpur.

Scope of the Investigation

1. Wider Network:
   • Key associates, including former MLA Ghulab Yadav, and business intermediaries Pushpraj Bajaj and Praveen Chaudhary, were also implicated in the bribery and money laundering scheme.
2. Legal Proceedings:
   • Several properties worth ₹23.72 crore were attached under the PMLA Act.
   • Co-accused Vipul Bansal, a batchmate of Hans, has been granted interim bail for medical reasons, while others remain in judicial custody.

Implications and Unanswered Questions

1. How did the corruption remain undetected during Hans’s tenure as principal secretary of Bihar’s energy department?
2. Could the ₹123 crore bribe negotiations involve more public officials or private entities?

As the investigation deepens, Hans’s case underscores the systemic corruption challenges within India’s governance framework, particularly in public utilities and tender allotments.