By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: On the last day of 2024, Bihar ministers, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, disclosed their assets in a report released by the Cabinet Secretariat. The details reveal that many ministers are wealthier than the Chief Minister. Among them, PHED Minister Neeraj Kumar Singh ranks as the wealthiest.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Assets
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s assets have shown minimal change compared to last year. In 2023, he had Rs 22,552 in cash, which has now decreased slightly to Rs 21,052. His total movable assets have grown from Rs 16.84 lakh to Rs 16.97 lakh, an increase of about Rs 50,000. His bank accounts hold Rs 31,448 in an SBI branch at Patna Secretariat, Rs 3,358 in the SBI Parliament House branch, and Rs 26,500 in a Punjab National Bank branch on Boring Road. He owns an Eco Sports car valued at Rs 11.32 lakh and gold jewellery worth Rs 1.71 lakh. Additionally, he possesses a flat in Udvarka, Delhi, purchased in 2004, now valued at Rs 1.48 crore.
Notably, Nitish Kumar’s livestock has reduced slightly; he now owns 12 cows and 10 calves, down from 13 cows last year. Unlike previous years, he no longer discloses details of his son’s assets.
Deputy Chief Ministers’ Assets
Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary has total assets worth Rs 11.30 crore, including Rs 6.70 lakh in cash. His family’s cash holdings include Rs 5.70 lakh with his wife, Rs 3.80 lakh with one child, and Rs 2.75 lakh with another. He also owns a rifle.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha’s total assets stand at Rs 7.93 crore. Interestingly, his wife’s wealth surpasses his own.
Wealthiest Minister: Neeraj Kumar Singh
PHED Minister Neeraj Kumar Singh tops the list with total assets of Rs 13.98 crore.
Other Notable Ministers
- Education Minister Sunil Kumar: Owns a revolver, has no personal vehicle, but his wife owns a Creta car. His assets include an FD worth Rs 1.80 crore, a mutual fund worth Rs 55 lakh, and a flat worth Rs 75 lakh in Patna. His wife owns a flat worth Rs 70 lakh in Ghaziabad. The joint family has 32 acres of agricultural land in Vijaypur, Gopalganj.
- Maheshwar Hazari: His total assets are Rs 4.23 crore, while his wife’s assets total Rs 5.09 crore. The couple’s bank accounts collectively hold over Rs 1 crore.
- Surendra Mehta: One of the least wealthy ministers, he has movable assets worth Rs 42 lakh, immovable assets worth Rs 20 lakh, and a loan of Rs 13.50 lakh. His vehicle, a Fortuner, is valued at Rs 38 lakh.
- Jama Khan: Holds Rs 1 lakh in cash and total assets worth Rs 1.49 crore, including a loan of Rs 10 lakh for a car.
Additional Highlights
- Transport Minister Sheila Mandal: Assets worth Rs 2.62 crore, including immovable property valued at Rs 2.20 crore and jewellery worth Rs 29.74 lakh.
All Photos: Neeraj Kumar
- Minister Santosh Kumar Suman: Assets worth Rs 5.63 crore, including movable property of Rs 1.81 crore and immovable property of Rs 3.81 crore.
- Dilip Jaiswal: Total assets worth Rs 9.6 crore, including Rs 3.69 lakh in cash.
- Urban Development Minister Nitin Naveen: Holds Rs 50,000 in cash, while his wife has Rs 15,000.
