HAJIPUR: The Vaishali district administration has ordered an inquiry into allegations of misuse of office and disproportionate assets involving Hajipur Municipal Council Chairperson Sangeeta Kumari and people named in a complaint, officials said.
The inquiry will be headed by the Assistant Collector, Vaishali, a post taken over this week by 2025-batch IAS officer Ankur Tripathi.
The district administration has also summoned complainant Subhash Kumar Nirala, a former ward councilor from Ward No. 5 in Bagmali, Hajipur, to appear before the inquiry committee at 11 a.m. Wednesday with supporting documents.
The summons, issued in Letter No. 232 dated Sept. 22, cites District Magistrate Varsha Singh’s order No. 1802/Go. dated Sept. 18, which constituted a five-member committee to conduct a point-by-point factual inquiry.
Inquiry follows escalation to the Tirhut commissionerate.
Nirala’s complaint alleges that he had earlier submitted documents to the Vaishali district magistrate concerning the chairperson and others, alleging disproportionate assets and misuse of office.
In a petition dated August 6 to the Commissioner of the Tirhut Division, Nirala said he had not received an effective response to his earlier representation and subsequently approached the commissionerate.
The Regional Development Officer, Tirhut Division, Muzaffarpur, subsequently forwarded the complaint to the Vaishali district magistrate in a letter dated Sept. 1 and sought an inquiry report. The district magistrate’s September 18 order followed that communication.
A five-member committee constituted
The inquiry committee comprises:
- Assistant Collector, Vaishali—chairman
- Additional Collector, Departmental Inquiry, Vaishali—member
- Senior Treasury Officer, Hajipur—member
- District Sub-Registrar, Hajipur—member
- Revenue Officer, Hajipur—member
The committee has been directed to obtain the documents supporting the complaint and submit its report with findings and an opinion within the period specified in the district magistrate’s order.
The composition of the committee brings revenue, property-registration, and treasury officials into the fact-finding process.
Complaint alleges property purchases and PMAY benefit
The complaint raises allegations concerning four people linked by the petitioner to the chairperson.
Surtiya Devi, identified in the complaint as the chairperson’s mother-in-law, is alleged to have received about Rs 1.5 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban and to have acquired land valued at about Rs 96.89 lakh between 2023 and 2026. The complaint also alleges construction of a house costing about Rs 70 lakh.
Sandhya Chaudhary, identified by the complainant as the chairperson’s sister, is alleged to have purchased land valued at Rs 53.03 lakh on Sept. 22, 2024.
The complaint also names Sonu Kumar, described by the petitioner as a witness in the chairperson’s nomination papers and a temporary appointee in the Nagar Parishad. It seeks verification of his appointment and the source of funds for alleged property and vehicle purchases involving his family.
Vikram Kumar Nishad is alleged to have purchased land valued at about Rs 66.39 lakh. The complaint describes him as an agent of the chairperson. The allegations and financial figures are contained in the complaint and have not been established by the inquiry.
Complainant seeks independent investigation
Nirala has requested that the allegations be examined by an independent agency, including the Vigilance Investigation Bureau or the Economic Offences Unit, and has sought action if the inquiry establishes prima facie violations. The district administration has not made any finding on the merits of the allegations.
The chairperson’s office had not issued a public response to the allegations as of the publication of this report.
Today’s appearance of the complainant is expected to provide the inquiry committee with the documents and evidence cited in the complaint. The committee’s subsequent findings will determine whether the allegations warrant further administrative or legal action.
