A woman accused Bihar IAS officer Sanjeev Hans of rape, and this accusation led investigators to uncover something even bigger—a web of corruption and money laundering. During the investigation, it was found that Hans and former RJD MLA Gulab Yadav were involved in illegal activities, including hiding and moving large amounts of money through dishonest means.

Sanjeev Hans, an IAS officer, and Gulab Yadav, a former RJD MLA, have been in jail since October. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating their money-related activities to uncover possible illegal dealings.

How did the case begin?

In January 2023, a woman lawyer went to the Rupaspur police station in Patna to file a complaint. She said that Sanjeev Hans and Gulab Yadav raped her in a hotel in Pune back in 2017. She also said they blackmailed her and threatened her to end her pregnancy. However, she gave birth in 2018 and asked for a DNA test to prove who is the real father.

In September, the Patna High Court dismissed the rape case against Sanjeev Hans. However, the accusations had already led to a detailed investigation into his money-related activities, as reported by the media.

What did the ED find?

On December 3, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched 13 places and found assets worth crores of rupees. They discovered a demat account connected to someone linked to Sanjeev Hans, which held shares worth Rs 60 crore. The ED also found over 70 bank accounts that were likely used to hide illegal money.

The ED also took cash amounts of Rs 16 lakh and Rs 23 lakh during the raids. They found real estate investments worth Rs 18 crore. The investigation showed that Hans and Yadav used clever methods to hide their illegal money. These included keeping shares untouched in accounts, using cash that couldn’t be traced, and hawala deals to move money secretly.

The investigation revealed that Sanjeev Hans misused his government job in Bihar to gain money illegally. Gulab Yadav and others are accused of helping him hide and move this money through illegal methods. During the investigation, Hans was removed from his role as Chairman and Managing Director of the Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited in July.