Nitish Kumar

Key Allegations in the Health Department Construction / Infrastructure

1. Single-Bidder Contracts for Construction
   
   
   
   • According to BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, an audit report (Accountant-General) indicates that the Bihar Medical Services & Infrastructure Corporation Ltd (BMSICL) awarded construction work (offices, residential quarters, drug warehouses) to single bidders.
   
   
   • Modi claimed this caused a loss of ₹ 4.78 crore − ₹ 8.62 crore to the state exchequer.
   
   
   • The allegation demands a CBI probe into the “messy affairs” of BMSICL.
   
   
   
   


2. Medicine Purchase Irregularities
   
   
   
   • Apart from construction, there were irregularities in medical equipment and drug procurement: a state audit reportedly found financial issues (e.g., irregularities worth ₹ 1.85 crore in equipment purchase).
   
   
   • There’s also a mention of a "drug-purchase / drug-and-equipment scam" connected to the same corporation.
   
   
   • Note: this is not purely construction, but infrastructure + procurement together.
   
   
   
   


3. Money Laundering / Bribery in Infrastructure Tendering
   
   
   
   • In March 2025, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches in Bihar related to PMLA investigations.
   
   
   • The ED accused several officials (from BMSICL, Bihar Construction Department, etc.) of receiving bribes for favorable outcomes in tenders and clearing bills.
   
   
   • Cash amounting to ~₹ 11.64 crore was seized in these raids.
   
   
   
   


4. Health Department "Cleaning" (Sanitation) Scam
   
   
   
   • According to Dainik Bhaskar, there was a scam in the health department over sanitation / cleaning work. In primary health centers and hospitals, “cleaning” contracts were reportedly manipulated: same work (e.g., floor cleaning) was charged multiple times under different heads.
   
   
   • Specifically: cleaning of floor, walls, and ceilings was tendered together, but costs were inflated, and “cleaning” work bills ballooned in 2011 compared to 2010.
   
   
   
   


5. Fake Nurse Appointments
   
   
   
   • More recently, in 2025, 12 nurses (GNM) at the Gopalganj Sadar Hospital were found to have been appointed using fake appointment letters.
   
   
   • 11 of these nurses have had FIRs filed against them.
   
   
   • This points more to HR fraud than infrastructure, but still within the health department.
   
   
   
   

Key Allegations on Liquor Mafia Money

1. ₹ 10,000 Crore from Liquor Mafia
   
   
   
   • The Bihar BJP chief, Samrat Choudhary, has accused Nitish Kumar and his party (JD(U)) of receiving ₹ 10,000 crore from the liquor mafia since prohibition was imposed in 2016.
   
   
   • According to Choudhary, the mafia set up a “parallel economy” by supplying liquor via home delivery, and the proceeds were allegedly flowing to JD(U).
   
   
   • The JD(U) has denied these allegations, calling them "baseless and fictitious," and challenged the BJP to present proof.
   
   
   
   


2. Parallel Economy Worth ₹ 30,000 Crore
   
   
   
   • Tejashwi Yadav (RJD) has claimed that corruption under the guise of prohibition has created a "parallel economy" in Bihar worth ₹ 30,000 crore, implicating Nitish’s government, police, and mafia.
   
   
   • He argues that despite the ban, a huge black market operates, and the "liquor mafia" continues to make massive money.
   
   
   • In one of his attacks, Yadav said that confiscated liquor is allegedly sold back into the market with help from JD(U) leaders, police, and the mafia.
   
   
   
   


3. Collusion in Excise / Police
   
   
   
   • A former IPS officer, Rakesh Kumar Sinha, wrote a letter alleging that excise officials, police, and local politicians (public representatives) were complicit in the illicit liquor trade.
   
   
   • In his letter, he urged the investigation of movable and immovable properties amassed by excise department officials, suggesting they profited massively.
   
   
   • Some excise officials have indeed been suspended for alleged collusion with the liquor mafia.
   
   
   
   


4. Political / Leadership Ties
   
   
   
   • Lalu Prasad Yadav once accused RCP Singh (a close associate of Nitish) of being a “liquor king.” According to Lalu, RCP Singh receives “commission” from the mafia:He gets commission from them. The money from illicit liquor trade directly reaches his house.
   
   
   • Lalu also alleged that RCP extracts money from district-level officials ("every DM and SP") monthly.
   
   
   
   


5. Deaths & Hooch Tragedies
   
   
   
   • After a spurious liquor ("hooch") tragedy in Bihar (with dozens of deaths), Tejashwi Yadav renewed his accusations, calling the liquor ban "the biggest corruption" of Nitish’s rule.
   
   
   • These deaths are cited as symptomatic of a broken system where illegal liquor is thriving under prohibition.
   
   
   
   

What Is the “Saat Nischay” / 7 Resolves Scheme?

• Saat Nischay (Seven Resolves) is a flagship Bihar government development program under Nitish Kumar, launched around his 2015 campaign.


• The seven resolves include: electricity for all villages, piped drinking water (Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal), metallic / pucca rural roads, sewage connections, toilets, drainage, and water for farmers’ fields.


• The scheme was very large in scope: reports say the outlay is ~₹ 2.7 lakh crore.

Key Allegations / Scam Claims

1. Corruption and Siphoning of Funds
   
   
   
   • Chirag Paswan (LJP chief) has repeatedly alleged “irregularities” in the implementation of Saat Nischay.
   
   
   • He claims public money has been siphoned off in these big "resolves" projects, and that both Nitish and his officials are involved.
   
   
   • Paswan has vowed that if his party comes to power, he will "probe" these irregularities and send “those at fault” (including Nitish) to jail.
   
   
   • According to Chirag, "12 crore Biharis … know about widespread corruption" in Saat Nischay.
   
   
   
   


2. Broken / Incomplete Projects
   
   
   
   • Reports (e.g., by NewsClick) allege that one of the core components - the tap water / Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal scheme - has not been fully delivered on the ground.
   
   
   • In some villages, water infrastructure (tanks, pipe networks) has been built, but water supply has not started or is extremely weak.
   
   
   • Locals in certain panchayats reportedly allege that funds have been "withdrawn" without real work done.
   
   
   • An example: in East Champaran, a protest claimed that despite fund allocation, no functional water delivery had happened.
   
   
   
   


3. Political Motivations / Vote-Bank Critique
   
   
   
   • The BJP (in Bihar) has claimed that Saat Nischay is more of a political gimmick than real service - calling it a promise to "fool people."
   
   
   • Chirag Paswan has framed the corruption allegations in Saat Nischay in election-campaign terms: he’s promised a full probe if his party comes to power.
   
   
   
   

Assessment & Significance

• The allegations are serious given the size of the scheme (₹ 2.7 lakh crore) - if true, misuse would mean major corruption.


• However, because much of the critique is political (coming from opposition leaders), the “scam” narrative is partly political rhetoric. This does not automatically mean all allegations are correct, but they cannot be dismissed lightly either.


• The tap-water (Nal-Jal) component is particularly scrutinized, because building infrastructure without delivering water is seen as symbolic of "development on paper."


• For voters / citizens: this is an important issue — if funds aren’t being used or projects aren’t completed, it’s a failure of governance, irrespective of whether it’s outright "scam" or "mismanagement."

1. What Happened / Nature of the Abuse
   
   
   
   • The shelter home was run by an NGO called Sewa Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti, headed by Brajesh Thakur.
   
   
   • According to a TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) social audit report, girls (many of them minors) were subjected to systemic sexual violence.
   
   
   • Some of the worst reported abuses: girls being drugged (sedatives in food), raped, beaten, locked up, physically punished.
   
   
   • According to media reports, a medical examination of inmates confirmed that 34 out of 42 girls showed evidence of sexual abuse.
   
   
   • There were also allegations of murder: some girls said one of them was beaten to death and buried within the premises.
   
   
   
   


2. Key Players / Accused
   
   
   
   • Brajesh Thakur: the main accused; ran the shelter home.
   
   
   • Several staff members of the shelter home were arrested.
   
   
   • Some government officials were also implicated or questioned, raising issues of political / institutional collusion.
   
   
   
   


3. How the Scandal Came to Light (Initial Exposure)
   
   
   
   • The scandal broke publicly after a TISS audit report (submitted to the Bihar government) exposed the abuse.
   
   
   • On 31 May 2018, based on the complaints and audit, an FIR was filed against Brajesh Thakur and others.
   
   
   • The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also took suo motu cognizance of the case.
   
   
   
   


4. Government & Political Response
   
   
   
   • Nitish Kumar, then CM of Bihar, expressed shame and guilt over the scandal and called it a "sin."
   
   
   • He ordered a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into the shelter home.
   
   
   • He also asked for the Patna High Court to monitor the CBI probe.
   
   
   
   


5. Investigation & Legal Outcomes
   
   
   
   • The CBI filed cases against shelter-home staff for sexual exploitation.
   
   
   • In January 2020, a Delhi court convicted 19 people, including Brajesh Thakur, for aggravated sexual assault under POCSO and gang rape.
   
   
   • According to the NHRC Annual Report (2021-22): the shelter home was under vicarious liability of the state; the NGO’s registration was cancelled; the building was demolished by Supreme Court order.
   
   
   
   


6. Human Rights / Institutional Criticism
   
   
   
   • The NHRC said that this was a grave violation of human rights — the very institution supposed to protect vulnerable girls had failed them.
   
   
   • The TISS report described a “situation of terror”: girls learned to remain silent because of constant abuse, punishment, and threat.
   
   
   • There was alleged institutional failure: weak monitoring, possible collusion, and poor oversight by the Social Welfare Department.
   
   
   
   


7. Aftermath / Current Status
   
   
   
   • The NGO (Sewa Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti) was deregistered.
   
   
   • Compensation was recommended / granted to victims (per NHRC report).
   
   
   • The case has been under court supervision, and the trial was reportedly completed under timelines set by the Supreme Court.
   
   
   
   

What Is the Vikas Samiksha Yatra Scam?

1. What Is the Yatra
   
   
   
   • Vikas Samiksha Yatra ("Development Review Tour") was launched by Nitish Kumar’s government on 12 December 2017.
   
   
   • The stated purpose was to review the implementation of development schemes across districts - to take a first-hand account of progress in rural development, welfare programs, infrastructure, etc.
   
   
   
   


2. Main Allegations
   
   
   
   • High Spending: Lalu Prasad Yadav (RJD) alleged that about ₹ 10 crore was being spent per district for this yatra, using state funds.
   
   
   • Paid Participation of Women: According to Lalu, a Jeevika (state rural women livelihood mission) order showed that 4,000 women would be brought to each public meeting in the Yatra, and they'd be paid ₹ 75 each, plus conveyance.
   
   
   • Image-Building: Critics like Tejashwi Yadav (RJD) called the yatra a "jhansa yatra" (a misleading or deceptive tour), claiming it's more about building Nitish’s image and popularity than actually reviewing development.
   
   
   • Use of State Machinery: Lalu alleged that state machinery (district officials, security, public meeting arrangements) was being used for what is essentially a political exercise.
   
   
   • Political Flags: Lalu also said that at these yatra meetings, JD(U) flags were prominently displayed, suggesting partisan benefit from government spending.
   
   
   
   


3. Counterarguments / Defense
   
   
   
   • The JD(U) defended the yatra, saying that the allegations are politically motivated (“sheer frustration” of Lalu).
   
   
   • On the purpose side, Nitish’s argument (via his officials) was that the yatra isn’t a political rally but a review tour - to assess scheme implementation and fix gaps at the ground-level.
   
   
   • Regarding the 4,000 women, the payment could be justified as a kind of compensation or stipend for participating in an official program, but critics see it as misuse of state welfare funds.
   
   
   
   


4. Political Reactions
   
   
   
   • Lalu Prasad Yadav demanded a formal investigation into spending.
   
   
   • Tejashwi Yadav said that instead of real development, Nitish is touring to gauge his declining popularity, especially after changing political alliances.
   
   
   • Some incidents during the yatra: According to media reports, Nitish’s cavalcade was even pelted with stones.
   
   
   
   

What Is the Srijan Scam?

1. What Happened
   
   
   
   • The scam involves a Bhagalpur-based NGO called Srijan Mahila Vikas Sahyog Samiti (SMVSS).
   
   
   • Government funds (welfare money) were allegedly siphoned off from state treasuries into Srijan’s accounts over several years (2007–2014).
   
   
   • The NGO reportedly used fraudulent banking practices: forged or duplicate cheques, fake endorsements, and doctored e-statements.
   
   
   • According to investigators, Srijan would deposit money back into government accounts so that cheques didn’t bounce, but then route it again to its own account.
   
   
   • Key bank branches involved: Indian Bank (Bhagalpur) and Bank of Baroda.
   
   
   • The estimated scale of the scam varies: some say ₹500+ crore, others go up to ₹1,000+ crore.
   
   
   • According to reports, the NGO also gave high-interest loans to people - possibly as a way to launder or recycle money.
   
   
   
   


2. Who's Accused / Involved
   
   
   
   • The founder of Srijan: Manorama Devi. After her death, her son Amit Kumar and daughter-in-law Priya Kumar got involved.
   
   
   • Some government officials and clerks are alleged to have colluded. For example, a clerk in the welfare department, Mahesh Mandal, is said to have provided original bank statements to Srijan’s leadership.
   
   
   • Bank officials: Employees in certain bank branches are accused of facilitating the fraud by accepting forged endorsements or depositing money into the NGO’s accounts.
   
   
   • Political Allegations: Opposition (RJD) alleges that Nitish Kumar (then CM) and his deputy Sushil Modi were involved or culpable, saying the scam took place under their watch.
   
   
   
   


3. Modus Operandi (How the Scam Worked)
   
   
   
   • Sweep Method: As described by Bhagalpur SSP, this involves a government cheque being issued, and then via “fake third-party endorsement” on the back of the cheque, it's deposited into Srijan’s account.
   
   
   • Forged Cheques: Duplicate cheque series allegedly given to Srijan, where they forged DM’s (District Magistrate’s) signature.
   
   
   • Fake Bank Statements: Srijan allegedly generated fake e-statements (digital bank statements), showing that the balance was fine, to avoid detection
   
   
   • Money Return: When a government cheque was to be deposited, Srijan would make sure the same or equivalent amount was put back in government accounts so the cheque didn't bounce.
   
   
   
   


4. Investigations & Responses
   
   
   
   • After the scandal broke, a special investigation team was formed, and later the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) took over.
   
   
   • Nitish Kumar has strongly denied being corrupt: according to him, no "amount of money" can corrupt him.
   
   
   • He claims his government itself exposed the scam and sent it for investigation.
   
   
   • Some critics (e.g., from RJD) demand more accountability; they allege that the investigation or monitoring is not strong enough.
   
   
   • A PIL (Public Interest Litigation) was filed in the Patna High Court regarding the scam, but the court dismissed it, noting that a central agency (CBI) was already probing.
   
   
   
   


5. Impact & Political Fallout
   
   
   
   • The scam became a major political issue in Bihar, with RJD demanding resignations of Nitish and Sushil Modi.
   
   
   • It raised questions about governance, misuse of welfare funds, and corruption in NGOs.
   
   
   • For Nitish, while he defends his integrity, the scandal remains a stain in the eyes of his critics.
   
   
   
   

What Is the Bihar Board Exam Scam?

1. Key Incident ("Topper Scam")
   
   
   
   • The scandal centers on the 2016 Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) Class 12 (Intermediate) toppers.
   
   
   • The Arts stream "topper," Ruby Rai, famously said in an interview that "prodigal science" (she meant "political science") is about cooking, which raised major red flags.
   
   
   • The Science topper, Saurabh Shrestha, also reportedly couldn’t answer basic chemistry questions.
   
   
   
   


2. Investigations & Findings
   
   
   
   • A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was set up to probe the scam.
   
   
   • Forensic experts concluded that Ruby Rai did not write most of her exam papers: her handwriting didn’t match in 5 out of 6 answer sheets.
   
   
   • The investigation alleged a big racket: students (or their families) paid bribes, there was collusion with BSEB officials, and some answer sheets were manipulated.
   
   
   • As a result, 68 inter-colleges and 19 schools had their BSEB affiliation canceled.
   
   
   • The ED (Enforcement Directorate) attached various properties belonging to the main accused (like Bachcha Rai, who was accused of orchestrating the scam).
   
   
   
   


3. Arrests
   
   
   
   • Ruby Rai was arrested by the SIT.
   
   
   • Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh (then BSEB Chairman) and his wife Usha Sinha were implicated and arrested.
   
   
   
   


4. Broader Problem of Cheating
   
   
   
   • Beyond just the topper scam, the Bihar board has historically faced issues of mass cheating, impersonation, and paper leaks.
   
   
   • Even in recent exams (e.g., board exams in 2024), students have been expelled for using unfair means.
   
   
   • More recent reports (2025) describe a systemic “exam mafia” in Bihar with networks of leak syndicates and middlemen.
   
   
   
   


5. Political / Governance Impact
   
   
   
   • Nitish Kumar (CM of Bihar) publicly called the scam shameful for the state.
   
   
   • The scandal exposed deep-rooted corruption in the Bihar education system: not just cheating by students but collusion among officials.
   
   
   • It forced reforms: after the 2016 scandal, BSEB reportedly increased vigilance, including stricter monitoring and checks.
   
   
   
   

What Is the ₹ 11,412 Crore Scam?

1. Nature of the Scam
   
   
   
   • The figure ₹ 11,412 crore comes from a CAG (Comptroller & Auditor General) finding: funds were paid from the Bihar treasury (state government) between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2008, but the DC (detailed voucher) bills against these payments were allegedly not submitted.
   
   
   • “AC bills” (abstract contingent bills) were raised to draw money from the treasury. These are preliminary estimates. But according to CAG, the corresponding detailed bills (“DC bills”), which should account for actual expenditure, were missing for a huge chunk of the money.
   
   
   • This suggests that the state government may have made "payments" on paper without having proper accounting or documentation for the real expenditure.
   
   
   • The scam allegedly spans multiple welfare and development schemes: MNREGA, mid-day meals, water resources, health, education (HRD), rural works, minor irrigation, road construction, etc.
   
   
   
   


2. Accused / Involved
   
   
   
   • The complaint (filed by a person named Mohan Kumar) names Nitish Kumar, his deputy S. K. Modi, and 45 other individuals.
   
   
   • Also named are several state ministers (for health, HRD, rural development, etc.) and senior bureaucrats (secretaries).
   
   
   • The complainant bases his case on a report by the Accountant General’s office.
   
   
   
   


3. Legal / Investigative Actions
   
   
   
   • A special vigilance court case was filed (as reported in July 2010) against Nitish, his deputy, and others.
   
   
   • The Patna High Court later ordered a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into the matter.
   
   
   • The BJP defended Nitish’s government by arguing that the issue was “accounts adjustment” rather than a scam.
   
   
   
   


4. Controversy & Debate
   
   
   
   • According to AajTak’s analysis, the controversy is around missing DC bills, which are critical for audit.
   
   
   • The government, at the time, claimed it was an accounting matter and suggested that PAC (Public Accounts Committee) should examine it rather than a criminal probe.
   
   
   • Critics and the complainant view it as misuse or misappropriation of welfare funds; supporters of Nitish’s government argue it's a technical / bureaucratic issue.