EOU raids Siliguri house of ex-SDPO
Patna: The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police on Wednesday carried out a search at a two-storey building in Siliguri, West Bengal, which was registered in the name of Shagufta Shamim, but is suspected to be a ‘benami’ property actually owned by former Kishanganj SDPO Gautam Kumar , who was suspended on Tuesday.
In the course of investigation, the team found that the property was registered on July 10, 2025, in West Bengal in the name of Shagufta, a resident of Line Bazar, Jhanda Chowk, Purnia, and the alleged girlfriend of the suspended officer. A search warrant was obtained from the court of the Special Judge (Vigilance), Patna, and the operation was conducted under the leadership of the ASP-cum-IO Indra Prakash.
“During the search, evidence emerged indicating that Gautam is the real owner of the property. The information and documents recovered are currently being verified,” the officers said.
Gautam, who was serving as DSP in Kishanganj, was removed from his post after EOU’s raid on March 31. The initial probe alleged that he possessed assets worth approximately Rs1.94 crore, which is about 60% higher than his known sources of income. But after the raid, the officers believed that it could go as high as Rs80-90 crore.
On March 31, 2026, the EOU conducted simultaneous raids at six locations linked to him in Purnia, Kishanganj, Patna and Siliguri. Those searches led to the recovery of documents related to around 25 land plots, many suspected to be benami properties. Several documents were found in the names of his wife Ruby Kashyap and Shagufta, along with other incriminating evidence.
In the course of investigation, the team found that the property was registered on July 10, 2025, in West Bengal in the name of Shagufta, a resident of Line Bazar, Jhanda Chowk, Purnia, and the alleged girlfriend of the suspended officer. A search warrant was obtained from the court of the Special Judge (Vigilance), Patna, and the operation was conducted under the leadership of the ASP-cum-IO Indra Prakash.
“During the search, evidence emerged indicating that Gautam is the real owner of the property. The information and documents recovered are currently being verified,” the officers said.
Gautam, who was serving as DSP in Kishanganj, was removed from his post after EOU’s raid on March 31. The initial probe alleged that he possessed assets worth approximately Rs1.94 crore, which is about 60% higher than his known sources of income. But after the raid, the officers believed that it could go as high as Rs80-90 crore.
On March 31, 2026, the EOU conducted simultaneous raids at six locations linked to him in Purnia, Kishanganj, Patna and Siliguri. Those searches led to the recovery of documents related to around 25 land plots, many suspected to be benami properties. Several documents were found in the names of his wife Ruby Kashyap and Shagufta, along with other incriminating evidence.
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