The Enforcement Directorate has stepped up its investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act involving two Bihar cadre IAS officers, Abhilasha Kumari Sharma and Yogesh Kumar Sagar. The agency recently sent a request to the state’s Special Vigilance Unit on November 19, asking for detailed records, administrative files and related documents as part of its expanded inquiry. Preliminary information has already been shared with the unit, indicating that the investigation has entered a more detailed stage.
The case focuses on financial transactions and administrative decisions made during earlier postings of the two officers. Officials have been reviewing whether any decisions may have resulted in financial irregularities or provided undue benefit. With supporting documents now under examination, the matter has begun to move toward concrete outcomes.
In its latest findings, the ED has cleared IAS officer Yogesh Kumar Sagar of any wrongdoing, stating that no evidence of irregularities emerged from the review. This conclusion was formally communicated to the state government through a letter from the SVU. However, the inquiry related to IAS officer Abhilasha Kumari Sharma remains active, and a final decision has not yet been announced.
The case has now been transferred to the Special Economic Offenses Unit under Section 66 for further evaluation. As part of its broader examination, the ED reviewed all BUDCO directors between 2015 and 2025, including the period when Sagar held leadership responsibilities there.
Profile: IAS Yogesh Kumar Sagar
Yogesh Kumar Sagar is a 2017 batch IAS officer who began his career as Sub-Divisional Officer in Forbesganj, Araria. He later served as Commissioner of the Bhagalpur Municipal Corporation and then as Managing Director of BUDCO from March 2024 to February 2025. He now serves as Director in the Social Welfare Department. Known for his clean administrative record and focus on transparency, he has been widely recognized for effective handling of governance responsibilities. The clearance from the ED confirms no irregularities were found during his tenure at BUDCO.
Profile: IAS Abhilasha Kumari Sharma
Abhilasha Kumari Sharma belongs to the 2014 IAS batch and initially served with the Ministry of Home Affairs before joining the Bihar cadre. She has held several major roles, including District Magistrate of Sitamarhi and Joint Secretary in the Finance Department. She currently works as Additional CEO and Deputy Secretary in the Rural Development Department. She is known for her planning skills, field-level coordination and work in welfare schemes. The examination of her previous administrative and financial decisions is still underway, and further clarity is expected as the review progresses.
What Lies Ahead
With the case now with the Special Economic Offenses Unit, the next steps will depend on its assessment of the submitted documents. While the inquiry into Sagar has concluded, the review concerning Sharma will determine whether additional action is required or if she is also cleared of allegations.