Bihar: Assistant Commissioner, data operator held in ₹25,000 bribery sting in Begusarai
Synopsis
A Vigilance Investigation Bureau sting in Begusarai caught an Assistant Commissioner and a data operator allegedly pocketing ₹25,000 in bribe money — and the accused reportedly tried to throw the cash out of a window to destroy evidence before investigators closed in. The arrest is part of a wider Bihar anti-corruption sweep that has netted multiple government employees in recent weeks.
Key Takeaways
The Vigilance Investigation Bureau arrested Assistant Commissioner Prakash Chandra Mohan and data operator Santosh Kumar Jha on 6 October 2026 .
Both were posted at the Commercial Taxes office in Begusarai, Bihar , and are accused of demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹25,000 .
The complaint was filed by Jyoti Kumar , proprietor of Rozi Garments , Krishna Market, Vishwanath Nagar.
The accused allegedly attempted to throw the bribe money — in ₹500-denomination notes — out of a window when the Vigilance team arrived.
The VIB has conducted several similar trap operations across Bihar in recent weeks as part of a zero-tolerance anti-corruption drive.
The Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, arrested an Assistant Commissioner and a data operator at the Commercial Taxes office in Begusarai, Bihar, after a sting operation caught them allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹25,000. The two arrested officials have been identified as Assistant Commissioner Prakash Chandra Mohan and data operator Santosh Kumar Jha.
How the Sting Unfolded
The operation was triggered by a complaint filed by Jyoti Kumar, proprietor of Rozi Garments in the Krishna Market area of Vishwanath Nagar. Kumar reportedly approached the Vigilance Department after being asked to pay a bribe in connection with routine official work at the Commercial Taxes office.
Following the complaint, the VIB conducted a confidential verification of the allegations, which was found to be prima facie substantiated. A trap operation was then planned and executed at the Commercial Taxes office on Tuesday.
Dramatic Attempt to Destroy Evidence
The alleged bribe amount — ₹25,000 in ₹500-denomination currency notes — was the target of a last-ditch cover-up attempt. According to officials, the accused reportedly tried to dispose of the money by throwing it out of a window upon realising that the Vigilance team had arrived. However, investigators moved quickly, taking both suspects into custody and securing evidence from the scene. The raid triggered a commotion among staff at the office.
Broader Anti-Corruption Drive in Bihar
This arrest is part of a wider crackdown by the Vigilance Investigation Bureau across Bihar's districts. In recent weeks, the VIB has conducted several such trap operations, resulting in the detention of multiple government officers and employees while they were allegedly in the act of accepting bribes. According to a senior official, the department has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and is committed to taking strict action against those found to be involved in corrupt practices.
What Happens Next
Both Prakash Chandra Mohan and Santosh Kumar Jha have been taken into custody for questioning, and further legal proceedings are under way. The Vigilance Investigation Bureau is expected to release additional details as the investigation progresses. All allegations against the two officials remain subject to formal investigation and subsequent judicial proceedings.
Point of View
Suggesting awareness of surveillance without a clear exit plan — a detail that will matter in evidentiary proceedings. The broader question is systemic: routine commercial tax filings should not require facilitation payments, and the fact that a garments-shop proprietor felt compelled to approach the Vigilance Department points to a process-level failure that an arrest alone will not fix. Bihar's anti-corruption optics are improving with each sting, but durable reform requires digitising workflows that currently create rent-seeking chokepoints.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Begusarai bribery case?
Assistant Commissioner Prakash Chandra Mohan and data operator Santosh Kumar Jha , both posted at the Commercial Taxes office in Begusarai, Bihar, were arrested by the Vigilance Investigation Bureau on 6 October 2026 for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹25,000.
What triggered the Vigilance Investigation Bureau sting in Begusarai?
The operation was triggered by a complaint from Jyoti Kumar , proprietor of Rozi Garments, who alleged that officials at the Commercial Taxes office demanded a bribe to process his official work. The VIB verified the complaint and then conducted a trap operation.
How much bribe was allegedly accepted and in what denomination?
The alleged bribe amount was ₹25,000 , reportedly made up of ₹500-denomination currency notes . The accused allegedly tried to throw the notes out of a window when they became aware of the Vigilance team's presence.
What is the current status of the two arrested officials?
Both Prakash Chandra Mohan and Santosh Kumar Jha are in custody for questioning, and further legal proceedings are under way. All allegations remain subject to formal investigation and judicial proceedings.
Is this part of a larger anti-corruption drive in Bihar?
Yes. The Vigilance Investigation Bureau has conducted multiple trap operations across Bihar's districts in recent weeks, arresting several government employees allegedly in the act of accepting bribes. Officials have stated the department follows a zero-tolerance policy on corruption.
