Bihar ASI arrested in Begusarai for ₹29,000 bribe in liquor case fix
Synopsis
A Bihar ASI was caught red-handed accepting ₹29,000 — reduced from an initial ₹30,000 demand — to drop a liquor smuggling case against a civilian. The Vigilance Investigation Bureau's trap operation in Begusarai lays bare how routine bribe negotiations inside police stations can ensnare ordinary residents in criminal cases they may have no part in.
Key Takeaways
ASI Chandan Jha of Sahebpur Kamal police station, Begusarai was arrested on 2 November 2026 by the Vigilance Investigation Bureau .
He was allegedly caught accepting a bribe of ₹29,000 — negotiated down from an initial demand of ₹30,000 .
The bribe was allegedly sought to remove complainant Amit Kumar's name from a liquor smuggling case linked to a seized four-wheeler.
The case was registered as Case No.
127/26 at the Vigilance police station after preliminary verification.
The accused was taken to Patna for further legal proceedings after initial formalities at Begusarai Circuit House .
An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) posted at Sahebpur Kamal police station in Begusarai district, Bihar, was arrested on Monday, 2 November 2026, by the Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) after he was allegedly caught red-handed accepting a bribe of ₹29,000. The accused officer, identified as Chandan Jha, was apprehended during a trap operation near the block headquarters by a vigilance team from Patna.
How the Trap Was Laid
The operation was set in motion after Amit Kumar, a resident of the Sahebpur Kamal police station area, filed a complaint alleging that ASI Chandan Jha had demanded money to get his name removed from a criminal case. Following the complaint, the Vigilance Department conducted a preliminary verification of the allegations.
Once the bribe demand was confirmed, a case — registered as Case No. 127/26 — was filed at the Vigilance police station, and a trap was subsequently laid. The vigilance team apprehended Jha immediately after he allegedly accepted ₹29,000 from the complainant, and the entire amount was recovered from his possession.
The Liquor Smuggling Connection
According to Gautam Sharan, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) at the Vigilance Investigation Bureau, Patna, the case stemmed from a dispute over a four-wheeler. ASI Jha had allegedly claimed that the complainant had already sold the vehicle; however, the same vehicle was later seized in connection with a liquor smuggling case. The accused reportedly demanded the bribe to remove the complainant's name from that smuggling case.
DSP Sharan further noted that Jha had initially demanded ₹30,000, but the amount was negotiated down to ₹29,000 before the transaction took place — a detail that underlines the alleged premeditated nature of the demand.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Following his arrest, the vigilance team escorted the accused to the Begusarai Circuit House (Parisadan) to complete the necessary legal formalities. He was subsequently taken to Patna for further legal proceedings. The arrest has triggered a stir within the Begusarai district police department, according to reports.
VIB's Stance on Police Corruption
The Vigilance Investigation Bureau reiterated its commitment to acting against public servants allegedly demanding or accepting bribes. This incident once again places corruption within Bihar's police machinery under scrutiny — a persistent concern that has led to multiple VIB operations in recent years. Further investigation into Case No. 127/26 is currently underway.
The outcome of the investigation and any departmental proceedings against Jha are expected to be closely watched by anti-corruption watchdogs in the state.
Point of View
And the ASI allegedly leveraged that to extract money, a pattern that reflects how Bihar's alcohol prohibition law, however well-intentioned, has created fresh avenues for low-level extortion. The negotiation from ₹30,000 to ₹29,000 points to a transactional normalcy that is arguably more damaging than the single arrest. Until departmental proceedings result in dismissals rather than suspensions, trap operations will remain deterrents on paper.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Bihar ASI Chandan Jha arrested?
ASI Chandan Jha was arrested on 2 November 2026 by the Vigilance Investigation Bureau for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹29,000 to remove a civilian's name from a liquor smuggling case registered at Sahebpur Kamal police station in Begusarai. He was caught red-handed during a VIB trap operation.
Who filed the complaint against the ASI?
Amit Kumar, a resident of the Sahebpur Kamal police station area in Begusarai, filed the complaint. He alleged that ASI Jha demanded money in exchange for getting his name dropped from a criminal case linked to a seized vehicle.
What was the liquor smuggling connection in this bribery case?
A four-wheeler associated with the complainant was seized in a liquor smuggling case. ASI Jha allegedly claimed the complainant had already sold the vehicle, then demanded a bribe to remove his name from the smuggling case — exploiting Bihar's prohibition law enforcement as a pressure tool.
How much did the ASI initially demand, and what was eventually paid?
According to DSP Gautam Sharan of the Vigilance Investigation Bureau, ASI Jha initially demanded ₹30,000, but the amount was negotiated down to ₹29,000. The full ₹29,000 was recovered from his possession at the time of arrest.
What happens next in the case?
Following arrest, ASI Jha was taken to Begusarai Circuit House for initial legal formalities and subsequently moved to Patna for further proceedings. The case — registered as Case No. 127/26 — is under active investigation by the Vigilance Investigation Bureau.
