Senior Bihar Bureaucrat Faces Heat Over Chartered Flight with Family; Opposition Targets Government

A senior bureaucrat of the Bihar government has landed in controversy after reports emerged that he travelled on a chartered aircraft along with his family members. The issue has sparked a political storm, with opposition parties raising questions over the alleged misuse of official resources.

The matter was raised both inside and outside the state Assembly by leaders of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Indian National Congress. Opposition members alleged that allowing family members to travel on an aircraft arranged for official purposes amounts to misuse of taxpayer money and violates service conduct norms.

What Happened?

According to reports, the senior officer had accompanied Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on an official visit to Delhi. After completing the official engagement, the chartered aircraft was scheduled to return to Patna. It is alleged that the bureaucrat’s family members also boarded the plane for the return journey, prompting criticism from opposition parties.

Opposition’s Allegations

RJD leaders questioned whether due permission was taken for the family’s travel and whether the cost of their seats was reimbursed to the government. They demanded a detailed clarification on:

• The purpose of the bureaucrat’s official visit

• The justification for family members accompanying him

• Whether any public funds were used for their travel

Congress legislators termed the incident “unethical” and said the government must set high standards of accountability, especially when it comes to the use of public resources.

Government’s Defense

Responding to the allegations, a senior minister in the Nitish Kumar-led government defended the officer, stating that the bureaucrat had travelled to Delhi on official duty with the Chief Minister. The minister clarified that the aircraft was already returning to Bihar and no additional financial burden was imposed on the state exchequer.

“The officer travelled with the Chief Minister for official work. The return flight was anyway scheduled to come back to Bihar. There was no misuse of funds,” the minister said, dismissing the opposition’s charges as politically motivated.

Political Fallout

The controversy comes at a time when the state government is facing increased scrutiny from opposition parties over governance and transparency issues. Political observers believe the issue could be further debated in the Assembly, with demands for either a formal inquiry or a written clarification from the government.

As of now, no official inquiry has been announced. However, the episode has intensified the political slugfest between the ruling alliance and opposition parties in Bihar, with accountability and propriety in public office at the centre of the debate.