Bihar: Revenue Official Nabbed for Bribery
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Synopsis
The Bihar State Vigilance Bureau has detained Ashish Kumar, a revenue official, for accepting a bribe of Rs 60,000. This marks the fifth operation against corrupt officials this year, as the government intensifies efforts to combat corruption, particularly in land-related matters.
Key Takeaways
- Ashish Kumar arrested for Rs 60,000 bribe.
- Followed a complaint from Surendra Singh.
- Fifth operation this year by SVB against corruption.
- Previous cases involve significant bribes and land disputes.
- Bihar government enforces measures against corruption.
Patna, Feb 20 (NationPress) The State Vigilance Bureau (SVB) of Bihar apprehended Ashish Kumar, a revenue official stationed at the Khaira block office in Jamui district, for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 60,000 on Thursday.
This action came after a complaint was lodged by Surendra Singh, a resident of Shringarpur, who claimed that Kumar solicited money to settle a land dispute.
In response to the complaint, the SVB orchestrated a sting operation and caught Kumar at the Panchayat Bhawan in the Khaira block.
This incident marks the fifth operation this year by the vigilance bureau targeting corrupt officials. Kumar was transported to Patna for further proceedings and has been charged under the relevant sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sahita (BNS) act at Patna's vigilance police station. He is set to appear in a special court for further investigation.
On February 11, a sub-inspector from Muzaffarpur was caught red-handed by the Vigilance Department while accepting a bribe of Rs 75,000. The accused, Raushan Kumar, a 2019-batch officer, was stationed at the Saraiya police station.
Officials reported that Kumar demanded Rs 1 lakh from a victim of land misregistration to draft a favorable supervision report.
On January 27, the SVU of Bihar arrested Bhogendra Jha, a revenue zonal inspector, for accepting Rs 51,000 in Sitamarhi. Jha, who was scheduled to retire on January 31, 2025, was accused of soliciting bribes for processing a land mutation.
The arrest followed complaints from Kamesh Thakur, a Pupri resident, who alleged that Jha demanded bribes for processing the mutation of six decimals of land in Bajitpur Panchayat.
Corruption, especially concerning land matters, remains a significant issue in Bihar, with citizens frequently reporting bribery demands in offices dealing with land records and disputes.
In response, the Bihar government has taken steps to tackle these issues. The Bihar Right to Public Grievance Redressal Act, effective from June 5, 2016, enables citizens to file complaints and seek resolution within 60 working days.
Furthermore, vigilance cells have been established at the district level to monitor and combat corruption cases.
