Nalanda District Panchayati Raj Officer Arrested for Rs 12,000 Bribe
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Patna, March 20 (NationPress) In a significant move against corruption, the Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) has apprehended a Panchayati Raj officer in Nalanda district who was allegedly receiving a bribe.
The suspect, Anushka Kumari, serving as the Block Panchayati Raj Officer (BPRO) in Nagarnausa block, was caught in the act during a sting operation.
This district is politically important as it serves as the home base of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
As per official sources, the operation was initiated after a complaint from Ajay Kumar, a resident of Khapura village, who claimed that the officer requested a bribe to facilitate a project involving the construction of steps at a Chhath ghat and to expedite the related documentation.
After validating the complaint, the vigilance bureau set up a specialized team and executed a trap.
The complainant was sent to the officer's office with the bribe amount, while vigilance agents discreetly blended in as regular visitors.
Once the officer allegedly accepted Rs 12,000 from the complainant, the team swiftly intervened and arrested her on-site.
She is currently being transported to Patna for further questioning following initial interviews.
She will face the vigilance court for subsequent legal actions.
This incident represents the second major vigilance operation in the district within the past week.
Previously, on March 16, the department detained Manoj Kumar Verma, a teacher at the Block Resource Centre in Chandi block, who was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 17,000.
This case arose from a complaint by a female teacher who stated that her salary had been withheld despite a court directive.
Verma allegedly colluded with Block Education Officer Pushpa Kumari to solicit funds for releasing the overdue payment.
A case has also been filed against the Block Education Officer, and an investigation is in progress.
Officials remarked that this crackdown underscores the state government’s firm stance against corruption, indicating that more such actions are anticipated soon.