Bihar govt suspends Muz SSP after raid in DA case

The Bihar government today suspended Muzaffarpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vivek Kumar after the Special Vigilance Unit's raided his residence in connection with a disproportionate asset case.

A notification regarding suspension of Vivek Kumar, a 2007 batch IPS officer, was issued by state Home department here today.

Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) officials had yesterday seized over Rs 5 lakh in cash, jewellery and Rs 45,000 in old currency notes from his residence. He was accused of having amassed assets three times more than his known sources of income.

Some important documents were also seized in course of the raid, a SVU official said.

The SVU team went to the SSP's residence again this afternoon along with police force, a SVU official said.

The notification said that Kumar "has been placed under suspension with immediate effect as an investigation is currently underway against him following constitution of a case against him with Special Vigilance Unit police station under various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 and IPC".

The state government has suspended the SSP using powers enshrined under rule 3(3) of All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, it said.

An FIR was lodged against him on April 15 with Special Vigilance Unit police station.

"An FIR was registered against him for amassing three times disproportionate assets to his known sources of income," Inspector General (IG), SVU, Ratan Sanjay told PTI yesterday.

On the value of items seized, he said the amount was not significant, but the SSP had acquired assets disproportionate his known sources of income.

Besides Kumar's residence, raids were also conducted at his native district Saharanpur and his in-laws' house at Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar, the IG said.

During the period of suspension, Kumar's headquarters would be the office of Director General-cum-Commandant General, State Home Guards and Fire Services, Patna, the notification said.

As per the rule 4 of All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, Kumar would also get only sustenance allowance during the suspension period, it added.