Corruption Allegations on Ashok Chaudhary: A Senior JD(U) leader and Cabinet Minister of Bihar

 

Corruption Allegations on Ashok Chaudhary: A Senior JD(U) leader and Cabinet Minister of Bihar

Ashok Chaudhary is a senior Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] leader and current Bihar cabinet minister holding portfolios such as Finance, Commercial Taxes, and Industries. He is a close aide to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and has been a five-time MLA from Amarpur in Banka district. Chaudhary has a long political career spanning over three decades, but his name has surfaced in corruption allegations primarily in 2025, leveled by political rival Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party (JSP). No prior major corruption cases or convictions against him were identified in public records from before 2025.

Key Corruption Allegations

The primary link between Ashok Chaudhary and corruption stems from a series of public accusations by Prashant Kishor during his "Bihar Badlao Yatra" and press conferences in September 2025, ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections. Kishor has repeatedly claimed that Chaudhary amassed wealth through corrupt means, focusing on illegal land acquisitions. Specific details include:

• Land Acquisition Claims: Kishor alleged that Chaudhary's family, including his wife, daughter Shambhavi Chaudhary, and sister-in-law Anita Kunal, acquired land worth approximately ₹200 crore over the past two years (2022–2024) via benami (proxy) transactions. These purchases were reportedly funneled through the Manav Vaibhav Vikas Trust, linked to Shambhavi's in-laws (the family of late Acharya Kishor Kunal, a former IAS officer and RSS affiliate).
• Timeline of Alleged Purchases (as cited by Kishor, with supporting documents shown publicly):

Date	Location/Details	Value
April 14, 2022	Patna district plot	7.20 Crore
May 12, 2022	Patna district plot	3.40 Crore
May 12, 2022	Another Patna plot	8.89 Crore
May 20, 2022	Patna district plot	3.44 Crore
July 18, 2022	Additional plot	15.50 Crore
Total in Patna (engagement to wedding period)	-	38 Crore

• Kishor questioned the funding sources, pointing to bank records showing regular transfers between Chaudhary's wife and the Kunal family. He claimed the trust was a front for laundering money and demanded Chaudhary explain his involvement or resign.
• Broader Context: These allegations are part of Kishor's wider campaign targeting Bihar's ruling NDA alliance (JD(U)-BJP), accusing multiple leaders of systemic corruption. Similar claims against Chaudhary were made earlier in June 2025, where Kishor broadly stated that "corruption is openly discussed across Bihar's corridors of power."

Kishor has challenged Chaudhary to disprove the claims in court, offering to face jail if proven wrong.

Chaudhary's Response

Chaudhary has vehemently denied the allegations, labeling them as politically motivated smears ahead of elections. Key actions include:

• Defamation Notices: On September 23, 2025, he sent a ₹100 crore defamation notice to Kishor, demanding proof within one week or a public apology via press conference. Failure to comply would lead to criminal and civil suits. This follows a similar ₹100 crore suit filed in June 2025 over earlier remarks.
• Public Defense: Chaudhary highlighted his clean record, academic credentials (including a Harvard invitation), and public service. He accused Kishor of a "campaign of humiliation" and stated that press conference allegations lack legal weight without evidence.

Current Status and Implications

As of September 28, 2025, the matter remains in the legal domain with no formal investigations or charges filed against Chaudhary by authorities. The feud has stirred tensions within Bihar's NDA alliance, with some BJP leaders (e.g., former Union Minister R.K. Singh) urging targeted ministers to clarify or resign. Opposition parties have amplified Kishor's claims, but Chaudhary retains his position. These are unproven allegations, and the ongoing defamation battle underscores the high-stakes political rivalry in Bihar.