Patna: In a major anti-corruption action in Bihar, the Vigilance Investigation Bureau on Friday arrested a Block Cooperative Officer (BCO) red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 in the Rajpur block of Rohtas district.​
The accused, Janardan Kumar, was apprehended at the exact moment he was receiving the illegal payment, an official of the Vigilance Investigation Bureau said.​
According to a vigilance official, the officer had allegedly demanded Rs 10,000 from Prashant Kumar, PACS Manager of Rajpur, in exchange for conducting a physical verification of paddy procurement.​
Distressed by the demand, the PACS Manager lodged a written complaint with the Vigilance Department in Patna.​
After verifying the complaint, a special Vigilance team laid a trap.​
The team caught the officer red-handed as the complainant handed over the bribe.​
The Vigilance Investigation Bureau’s action sent shockwaves through administrative circles in the district.​
Following the arrest, the Vigilance team conducted a search of the accused officer’s residence in Sasaram and examined documents related to his assets.​
Vigilance Inspector Akhilesh Kumar stated that demanding money for routine official work, such as verification of paddy procurement, is illegal, prompting the trap operation.​
The accused is being taken to Patna, where he will be produced before a special Vigilance Court after completion of legal formalities.​
Officials say the action has sent a strong message and created unease among those involved in corrupt practices.​
Earlier, on April 22, a team from the Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) conducted a surprise raid and caught a government clerk red-handed while accepting a bribe.​
The arrested clerk has been identified as Saket Kumar. He was posted at Benipatti Circle Office in Madhubani district.​
Along with him, the vigilance team also apprehended a middleman, Parmanand Jha, a resident of Dhakjari village.​
According to an official, Saket Kumar had allegedly demanded Rs 30,000 from Ravindra Yadav, a resident of Dahila village under Parjuar Panchayat, in exchange for facilitating the removal of an encroachment.​
(IANS)
