Two Arrested in Jharkhand for Allegedly Accepting Rs 5 Lakh Bribe at DCLR Office
Synopsis
In a significant operation, the Anti-Corruption Bureau has arrested two individuals in Jharkhand for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh at the DCLR office, revealing deeper corruption issues within government services.
Key Takeaways
Two individuals arrested for bribery Bribe amount: Rs 5 lakh Total bribe demanded: Rs 40 lakh ACB's ongoing investigation into corruption Public urged to report bribery
Ranchi, March 23 (NationPress) The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) apprehended two individuals on Monday in Jharkhand's Saraikela district—an employee from the Deputy Commissioner, Land Reforms' (DCLR) office and a middleman—while they were reportedly accepting a bribe amounting to Rs 5 lakh, according to officials.
The suspects have been named as Pritam Acharya, a staff member at the DCLR office, and a broker.
Officials revealed that the duo had solicited a total of Rs 40 lakh from the complainant, Gurucharan Singh Sardar, in return for resolving a land compensation dispute and providing a favorable report.
Following the complaint, the ACB initiated a sting operation. The complainant arrived at the agreed-upon location on Monday with Rs 5 lakh as the initial installment of the demanded sum. As soon as the cash exchanged hands, the ACB team, which had been surveilling the situation, swiftly intervened and arrested both individuals in the act.
This incident has caused significant unrest within the Saraikela Collectorate and the Land Reforms office. After the arrests, the ACB transported both suspects to Jamshedpur for further interrogation.
With this recent action, the total arrests related to bribery in Jharkhand this month has escalated to eight.
Previously, on March 19, the ACB's Dumka unit detained Niranjan Kumar, the Block Supply Officer in Barharwa (Sahibganj district), who was allegedly caught accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a Public Distribution System (PDS) dealer. The amount was solicited to ensure the uninterrupted operation of ration distribution and departmental functions.
On March 17, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a Junior Engineer from the South Eastern Railway in Bhojudih (Bokaro) while reportedly accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000.
Earlier, on March 13, two employees from the District Land Acquisition Office in Deoghar were taken into custody for allegedly demanding kickbacks to facilitate compensation for a Ring Road project.
On March 12, both a Sub-Inspector in Koderma and a Panchayat Secretary in Gumla were also caught taking bribes in separate operations.
The ACB has announced that it is investigating the disproportionate assets of those arrested, as well as their potential networks and connections.
The bureau urges the public to refrain from offering bribes when seeking government services and to promptly report any such solicitations to the appropriate authorities.
Point of View
The increasing number of bribery arrests underscores a troubling trend in governance and public service integrity. This incident, which highlights systemic corruption, calls for immediate reforms and transparency in governmental operations.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the DCLR office in Jharkhand?
Two individuals were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh.
Who were the arrested individuals?
The suspects include Pritam Acharya, an employee of the DCLR office, and a middleman.
What was the total bribe demanded?
The duo had initially demanded a total of Rs 40 lakh from the complainant.
How many bribery arrests have occurred in Jharkhand this month?
The recent arrests bring the total to eight for the month.
What does the ACB advise the public regarding bribery?
The ACB advises the public not to offer bribes and to report any such requests.
