Bihar VIB arrests Junior Engineer red-handed for ₹1.45 lakh bribe in Sitamarhi
Synopsis
A Junior Engineer at Pupri Nagar Parishad in Sitamarhi was caught red-handed by Bihar's Vigilance Investigation Bureau allegedly pocketing ₹1.45 lakh from a contractor — the second such arrest in a week. With a clerk in Jamui nabbed just days earlier for a ₹37,000 bribe, the VIB appears to be running a coordinated statewide sweep against mid-level corruption in public departments.
Key Takeaways
Vijay Kumar Sharma , Junior Engineer at Pupri Nagar Parishad, Sitamarhi , was arrested by the Vigilance Investigation Bureau on Friday.
He was allegedly caught accepting ₹1.45 lakh in cash from contractor Raj Bhushan in a pre-laid trap.
An FIR has been registered at the Vigilance Police Station, Patna ; the accused will face the Special Vigilance Court, Muzaffarpur .
On 8 May , the VIB had separately arrested clerk Rupesh Kumar at Sono Primary Health Centre, Jamui , for allegedly demanding ₹37,000 from an ANM.
Both arrests are part of Bihar's continuing drive to curb corruption in government departments.
The Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) of Bihar arrested Vijay Kumar Sharma, a Junior Engineer posted at the Pupri Nagar Parishad in Sitamarhi district, after he was allegedly caught accepting a bribe of ₹1.45 lakh from a contractor on Friday. The arrest is the latest in a series of anti-corruption operations carried out by the bureau across the state.
How the Trap Was Laid
According to officials, contractor Raj Bhushan approached the VIB's Patna office with a formal complaint alleging that Sharma had been repeatedly demanding money in connection with the release of payments linked to a departmental project. The bureau conducted a preliminary verification, which confirmed the allegation, and subsequently deployed a vigilance team to Sitamarhi to apprehend the accused.
On the day of the operation, Sharma arrived at the designated location in a black car bearing registration number BR01JL4746. The moment he allegedly accepted ₹1.45 lakh in cash from the contractor, the waiting vigilance team moved in and detained him on the spot.
What Officials Said
A DSP-rank officer who led the operation confirmed the sequence of events: 'We received a complaint from contractor Raj Bhushan alleging that Junior Engineer Vijay Kumar Sharma was demanding a bribe in connection with sanctioned project funds. Based on verification, a trap was laid and he was arrested red-handed.'
Following preliminary interrogation, Sharma was taken into custody. An FIR has been registered at the Vigilance Police Station in Patna, and the accused is set to be produced before the Special Vigilance Court in Muzaffarpur for further legal proceedings.
Part of a Wider Crackdown
This arrest is not an isolated incident. On 8 May, the VIB had detained Rupesh Kumar, a clerk at the Sono Primary Health Centre in Jamui district, who was allegedly caught accepting ₹37,000 from an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) in exchange for clearing her pending salary arrears. That case also resulted in an FIR under vigilance provisions.
Notably, both arrests occurred within a single week, signalling an intensified operational tempo from the bureau. The Bihar government has framed these actions as part of a sustained drive to root out corruption in public departments, particularly those handling contractor payments and healthcare administration.
Impact and What Comes Next
The Sitamarhi arrest has drawn attention in the region, with local officials and contractors watching the case closely. Legal proceedings before the Special Vigilance Court in Muzaffarpur will determine the next steps for Sharma. The VIB is expected to continue targeted operations across districts as part of its ongoing anti-corruption mandate.
Point of View
Another in a primary health centre — suggest the VIB is no longer waiting for high-profile targets but is sweeping mid-level cadres where corruption is most transactional and least scrutinised. The pattern of contractor-payment extortion at the Nagar Parishad level is systemic, not aberrant; Sharma's arrest is likely the tip of a much larger ledger. The real accountability test is whether the Special Vigilance Court proceedings move swiftly enough to deter, or whether they join the long queue of pending cases that have historically blunted Bihar's anti-corruption drives.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested by the Bihar Vigilance Investigation Bureau in Sitamarhi?
Vijay Kumar Sharma, a Junior Engineer posted at Pupri Nagar Parishad in Sitamarhi district, was arrested by the Vigilance Investigation Bureau after he was allegedly caught accepting a bribe of ₹1.45 lakh from contractor Raj Bhushan.
What was the bribe demanded for?
According to officials, Sharma was allegedly demanding money from contractor Raj Bhushan in connection with the release of payments linked to a departmental project handled by the Pupri Nagar Parishad.
What legal action has been taken against the accused?
An FIR has been registered at the Vigilance Police Station in Patna. Sharma is set to be produced before the Special Vigilance Court in Muzaffarpur for further legal proceedings.
Was there a similar arrest by the Bihar VIB recently?
Yes. On 8 May, the VIB arrested clerk Rupesh Kumar at Sono Primary Health Centre in Jamui district, who was allegedly caught accepting ₹37,000 from an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife in exchange for clearing her pending salary arrears.
How did the VIB catch the accused Junior Engineer?
Contractor Raj Bhushan filed a formal complaint with the VIB office in Patna. After preliminary verification confirmed the allegation, a trap was laid in Sitamarhi. Sharma was apprehended the moment he allegedly accepted the cash.
