Disproportionate assets of Bihar officials to be confiscated

PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said the assets owned by public servants in the state disproportionate to their known sources of income would be confiscated.

"If the assets, owned by the state officials, are found to be disproportionate to his/ her known sources of income, these will be confiscated," Kumar told reporters on the sidelines of his 'Janata Darbar' programme, held after a gap of almost seven months.

Kumar said an amendment to the legislation on prevention of corruption which seeks confiscation of those properties of government employees assessed to be beyond known sources of income was passed by the state legislature during its monsoon session.

"We are awaiting clearance of the Centre to enforce the amendment in the law dealing with corruption in Bihar," he said.

As soon as the Centre gives its nod to the amendment, authorities of state vigilance bureau and special vigilance wing, besides police department and other agencies probing such cases in Bihar would be given a free hand in impounding the disproportionate assets, if any, he said.