The Bihar Cabinet Secretariat on Wednesday evening published the asset declarations of ministers for the year ending 2025, revealing wide disparities in declared wealth among members of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government.
Bihar ministers asset declaration highlights stark differences
The disclosures show that while Chief Minister Nitish Kumar holds declared assets totalling roughly ₹1.65 crore, many of his ministers are substantially wealthier. According to the documents, almost all cabinet members, with the exception of the sugar industry minister Sanjay Kumar and labour resources minister Sanjay Tiger, are millionaires. The filings record holdings in cash, bank deposits, investments, property, vehicles, jewellery and, in several cases, firearms.
Nitish Kumar’s declared movable assets amount to ₹17,66,196 and immovable assets to about ₹1.48 crore. The report notes modest year-on-year growth of approximately ₹70,000 in his overall holdings and a small reduction in cash reserves. The chief minister also lists livestock ownership — ten cows and 13 calves — and a 1,000 sq ft flat in Dwarka, Delhi, purchased in 2004 for ₹13.78 lakh.
Several ministers reported far larger sums. Rural Works Minister Ashok Chaudhary’s wife has ₹22.54 crore in bank deposits, while the minister himself holds around ₹53 lakh across various accounts. The contrast underlines the significant variance in household wealth within the cabinet.
Backward and Extremely Backward Classes Welfare Minister Rama Nishad declared the largest quantity of precious metals among ministers: two kilograms of gold and six kilograms of silver. Her declared movable assets stand at approximately ₹3.75 crore, while her husband reported assets worth about ₹2.30 crore.
Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Samrat Choudhary reported ₹1.35 lakh in cash and ₹17.45 lakh in bank deposits, along with investments and a non-agricultural land holding valued at ₹4.91 crore. The declaration lists a family firearm — a revolver inherited from his father — and an NP bore rifle. Samrat Choudhary also owns a 2023-model Bolero.
Other ministers with notable declarations include:
- Local Health Engineering Minister Sanjay Singh: bank deposits of about ₹20.55 lakh, property in Rajiv Nagar valued at ₹2.54 crore, and jewellery worth over ₹20 lakh; his wife holds further jewellery and a vehicle.
- Tourism Minister Arun Shankar Prasad: total assets of roughly ₹2.55 crore, including agricultural land and a residential property.
- Animal and Fisheries Resources Minister Surendra Mehta: high-value vehicles including a Fortuner and a Tata Safari and modest jewellery holdings.
Sugar industry minister Sanjay Kumar declared total assets of about ₹23 lakh, among the lowest in the cabinet, while labour resources minister Sanjay Tiger reported movable assets of ₹32 lakh. Health Minister Mangal Pandey has substantial deposits with non-banking financial institutions amounting to around ₹1 crore, bringing his total movable assets to roughly ₹1.32 crore.
The disclosures, published as part of routine transparency measures, offer a snapshot of financial standing among state leaders. They underline the diversity of asset profiles within the cabinet and will likely prompt public and media scrutiny over wealth concentration, ownership of firearms, and the prominence of family holdings in ministers’ overall declarations.
Officials emphasised that the filings were made in accordance with statutory requirements. Analysts say such disclosures help strengthen accountability, though they also call for continued vigilance and independent verification of declared assets.
Key Takeaways:
- Bihar ministers asset declaration shows many cabinet members are millionaires and hold jewellery, vehicles and firearms.
- Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reported assets of ₹1.65 crore, substantially lower than several ministers.
- Ashok Chaudhary’s wife holds ₹22.54 crore in bank deposits; Rama Nishad reported 2 kg gold and 6 kg silver.
- The Cabinet Secretariat published the declarations for the year ending 2025, highlighting notable wealth disparities within the cabinet.
