Patna, May 22 (IANS) In a major anti-corruption crackdown in Bihar, the Vigilance Investigation Bureau on Friday arrested Akash Kumar Rauniar, the Circle Officer (CO) of the Sasaram Sadar circle in Rohtas district, while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 3 lakh.

His private assistant, Sonu Kumar, was also taken into custody during the operation.

According to Vigilance DySP Pawan Kumar, the case pertains to the rectification of records linked to a disputed land plot.

“The Circle Officer had allegedly demanded Rs 8 lakh through a revenue employee to process the matter. After negotiations, the amount was reduced to Rs 6 lakh, with Rs 3 lakh being paid as the first instalment,” Kumar said.

He further said that the trap was executed at the Circle Officer’s private residence.

As per the Vigilance Department, revenue employee Rakesh Kumar arrived with the cash, and the money was accepted by Sonu Kumar in the presence of the Circle Officer.

Vigilance personnel, who had already positioned themselves nearby, immediately conducted the raid and arrested both accused red-handed.

Speaking on the operation, Pawan Kumar said the accused officer would be produced before the Vigilance Court after interrogation in Patna.

The complaint that triggered the operation was filed by revenue employee Rakesh Kumar.

In his complaint, he alleged that the Circle Officer routinely pressured him to collect Rs 50,000 for every land mutation (Dakhil Kharij) case processed in the office.

He further alleged that the officer specifically directed him to collect Rs 8 lakh from a complainant identified as Ashok Prasad.

Based on these allegations, a formal complaint was registered at the Vigilance police station.

Earlier the same day, the Vigilance Department also arrested Satish Kumar, a clerk posted at the Civil Surgeon’s office in Rohtas, on bribery charges.

The action followed a complaint by a female accountant posted in Sanjhauli, who alleged that she had been asked to pay Rs 20,000 in connection with a transfer-related matter.

Acting on the complaint, the Vigilance team laid a trap and arrested the clerk while he was allegedly accepting the bribe.

–IANS

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