94 students now study in tainted officer’s house

The entire process was completed without any fanfare. Whereas the Chief Minister and HRD minister stayed away from the inauguration,the district administration got School Education Committee Secretary Sita Devi to cut ribbons amid applause from students.

The district administration used vans to ferry children to the new school building,located about one km from the previous school building. The 94 students,mostly Dalits,were extremely pleased to shift to a “wonderful” building. “Is it our school building now?” was their query. While most came to the new school building in uniform,some wore their best dress on the inaugural day.

Verma’s Rukunpura house was confiscated under the provisions of the Bihar Special Courts Act,2009,allowing the state government to confiscate property of a corruption case accused during trial. The house is now the property of the HRD department. The original school building was in a poor state. As there’s enough vacant space in the building,the HRD department may accommodate other schools or offices.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar called it a historic day and hoped it would serve as a deterrent to public servants. “More such schools will be opened without fanfare. We have to stay away from publicity but give out a stern message,” he said.

Eighteen other public servants facing DA cases,including former DGP Narayan Mishra,may lose their property to the state government.