Patna: The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police recovered evidence of several high-value properties, cash and financial investments during searches conducted at five locations on Tuesday linked to police inspector Abhishek Kumar Ranjan, for allegedly possessing assets worth 115.66% more than his known sources of income.The case, registered on April 13 against Ranjan, currently serving as station house officer at Town police station, Kishanganj, under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), alleges that he amassed disproportionate assets worth Rs1.7 crore.Nayyar Hasnain Khan, ADG of EOU, said Ranjan joined the Bihar Police as a sub-inspector in 2009 and was promoted to police inspector in 2023. “He served in various districts, including Muzaffarpur, Motihari (East Champaran), Patna and Kishanganj. Acting on a search warrant issued by the Special Vigilance Court, Patna, the EOU teams led by deputy superintendents of police carried out the simultaneous raids,” he said.The searches, which began at 8.30am and continued till late evening, revealed that Ranjan recently constructed a new G+3 house in Ramakrishna Nagar, Patna, built on approximately 2,200 square feet of land in 2023-24 with an estimated construction cost exceeding Rs2 crore. In Prabhunath Nagar, Chhapra, a 1,400-square-foot house built in 2019 was found with an estimated cost of around Rs30 lakh.“A two-storey house is currently under construction in the accused’s native village of Paiga, Sadar, in Saran (Chhapra), estimated at approximately Rs50 lakh. In Bagdogra (Siliguri), investigators found a 6-kattha plot on Darjeeling Road purchased at the rate of Rs17 lakh per kattha, with evidence showing that Rs84 lakh was paid in cash to the promoter for the transaction and the plot boundary fenced,” the ADG said.In Chandwara, under Ahiyapur police station in Muzaffarpur, 3 katthas of land were purchased in 2015, registered at only Rs4 lakh despite much higher actual payments reportedly made.During the raid at the Patna residence, approximately Rs8.5 lakh in cash was found, and details were also recovered of deposits of around Rs8.5 lakh in the bank accounts of Ranjan and his wife, Ankita Kumari. The family also maintains annual investments of around Rs1 lakh in insurance policies and holds approximately Rs20 lakh in mutual funds and shares. He recently paid Rs2.5 lakh as admission fee for his elder son’s enrolment in Delhi Public School, Siliguri.Investigators observed that the police inspector had luxurious lifestyle, including his fondness for expensive mobile phones. In Jan 2026, he flew with his family from Bagdogra to Mumbai and stayed for about five days at a five-star hotel, with details of travel, accommodation and other expenses now being examined.Further information received by the EOU suggests that Ranjan has invested heavily in land dealings, possibly through a syndicate. He is reported to own a flat on Sevoke Road in Siliguri, has purchased 6-7 trucks, and has significant property investments in Fatehpur Kanti, Muzaffarpur, with total investments suspected to exceed Rs20 crore. Many of these assets are likely held as ‘benami’.“During his posting in Kishanganj, the accused allegedly maintained close ties with local mafia elements, including the sand and liquor mafia and smuggling networks, which are suspected to have facilitated his illegal wealth accumulation. The EOU is conducting a detailed investigation into all these leads,” the officials said.
