Who is the Panchayat Secretary arrested for accepting a bribe in Bihar?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Corruption in Local Governance: The incident is a stark reminder of the pervasive corruption in local government offices.
- Vigilance Actions: The Special Vigilance Department is actively working to address and combat corruption.
- Public Response: The incident has sparked concern among locals regarding the trustworthiness of public officials.
- Accountability: There is a pressing need for improved accountability measures within public service.
- Ongoing Investigations: The case is still under investigation to uncover any additional wrongdoing.
Patna, Dec 30 (NationPress) The Special Vigilance Department apprehended a Panchayat Secretary on Tuesday for accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 in exchange for processing a birth certificate at the Ara Sadar block office in Bihar.
The individual has been named as Jitendra Prasad, who serves as the Panchayat Secretary for Daulatpur Panchayat.
He was caught in the act while receiving the bribe within the block office premises.
As per reports, the complainant, Naveen Kumar Singh, a resident of Pipra village in Motihari district, indicated that his daughter is married in Dariyapur village.
She had been visiting the Ara Sadar block office for four months to secure a birth certificate for her mother-in-law.
Despite having fulfilled all necessary formalities and obtaining the necessary signature from the Block Development Officer (BDO), the certificate issuance was intentionally delayed.
The complainant claimed that Panchayat Secretary Jitendra Prasad initially requested Rs 20,000 to issue the certificate, which he later reduced to Rs 10,000 after ongoing negotiations.
Naveen Kumar Singh further alleged that the Panchayat Secretary insisted that the birth certificate would not be issued without the bribe, leading to further delays.
Frustrated with the continuous demands, Naveen Kumar Singh filed a complaint with the Special Vigilance Department on December 29.
Upon verification, the allegations were confirmed as valid.
On Tuesday, the accused was caught red-handed when he accepted the bribe money and attempted to conceal it under the table, resulting in his immediate arrest by the vigilance team.
DSP Chandra Bhushan of the Special Vigilance Department confirmed the operation, stating, “A complaint was received regarding the demand for illegal gratification for issuing a birth certificate. After thorough verification, we took swift action, resulting in the arrest of the Panchayat Secretary.”
The DSP also mentioned that the Panchayat Secretary might have acted on directives from the Block Development Officer, which is currently part of the investigation.
“Should any additional individuals be implicated in this case, rigorous measures will be enforced against them as well,” the DSP added.
The arrested Panchayat Secretary hails from Kusuma Halt in Sheikhpura district and has served in Daulatpur Panchayat for the past three years.
This vigilance operation has instigated concern and unrest within the block office, and further inquiries into the matter are ongoing.