Patna, May 15 (IANS) The crackdown on corruption continues in Bihar, with the Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) taking action against erring officials. In the latest case, a Junior Engineer was caught red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe in Sitamarhi district.

According to officials, the accused, Vijay Kumar Sharma, was posted as a Junior Engineer at the Pupri Nagar Parishad in Sitamarhi. He had allegedly been demanding a bribe from a contractor, Raj Bhushan, in connection with the release of payments linked to a departmental project.

Following repeated demands for money, the contractor approached the Vigilance Investigation Bureau office in Patna and lodged a formal complaint. Acting on the complaint, the department conducted a preliminary verification, during which the allegation was found to be genuine.

Subsequently, a vigilance team laid a trap in Sitamarhi to apprehend the accused official.

On Friday, Sharma arrived at the designated spot in a black car bearing registration number BR01JL4746. As soon as he allegedly accepted Rs 1.45 lakh from the contractor, the vigilance team swooped in and caught him red-handed with the cash.

After preliminary interrogation, the accused was taken into custody by the Vigilance Investigation Bureau team.

A DSP-rank officer who led the operation said: “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.”

Officials added that the accused would be produced before the Special Vigilance Court in Muzaffarpur for further legal proceedings.

An FIR has already been registered at the Vigilance Police Station in Patna.

The action has created a stir in the region and is being viewed as part of the Bihar government’s continuing drive to curb corruption in government departments across the state.

Earlier, on May 8, the Vigilance Investigation Bureau had arrested a clerk posted at the Sono Primary Health Centre in Jamui district while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 37,000.

The accused, identified as Rupesh Kumar, was allegedly demanding money from an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) in exchange for clearing her pending salary arrears.

–IANS

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