A two-day raid by the Uttar Pradesh Vigilance Establishment at the Lucknow home of a retired transport department officer has led to the recovery of assets worth around ₹35 crore. The action was taken as part of an investigation into a disproportionate assets case against former Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Lalit Kumar.
Cash, gold and jewellery recovered
During the search at Kumar’s house in Chandralok Colony in Aliganj, officials recovered ₹1.62 crore in cash, packed in bundles and hidden in different places inside the house.
UP vigilance recovers ₹1.62 crore cash, 13 kg gold and 9 kg silver during raid at ex-transport officer's residence in Lucknow pic.twitter.com/z5juFyxIqW
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The team also found around 13 kg of gold and 9 kg of silver in the form of bars, biscuits and jewellery. Diamond jewellery was also recovered.
According to a government-approved valuer, the gold, silver, jewellery and the house together are estimated to be worth nearly ₹20 crore.
Property papers and investment records were seized
The search also led to the recovery of documents linked to several movable and immovable properties. These include residential houses and plots in Lucknow, agricultural land, and flats booked in Lucknow and Noida, including projects by Ansal AP and Amrapali Spring Meadows. Officials estimated the value of these properties at around ₹13 crore.
Apart from property documents, the team found records of investments worth more than ₹1 crore in banks, post offices, mutual funds and fixed deposits.
Officials also seized two cars, a Toyota Innova and a Hyundai i20, along with a licensed revolver. They also prepared an inventory of the money spent on furniture and household items in the house, which showed significant expenditure.
Case registered after preliminary inquiry
The Vigilance Establishment had registered an FIR against Lalit Kumar in 2024 while he was serving as ARTO in Agra. The case was filed at the Anti-Corruption Police Station in Kanpur under Sections 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act after a preliminary inquiry found that his assets were far higher than his known sources of income.
Based on the inquiry, the Uttar Pradesh government directed the Vigilance Establishment’s Lucknow Sector to carry out a detailed investigation. The investigating officer later obtained a search warrant from the court before conducting the raid on 7th July and 8th July.
Officials said all the assets recovered during the search are being verified and will be included in the ongoing investigation. DGP Rajeev Krishna, who is also holding the additional charge of Director, Vigilance Establishment, has announced a reward of ₹1 lakh for the Lucknow Sector team for carrying out the operation.
