Vigilance operations in Bihar are ongoing, revealing instances of corrupt officials being apprehended despite previous actions by the vigilance department. In a recent incident, a peon working in the Sales Tax Department in Saharsa was caught accepting a bribe, causing concern within government circles. The arrested individual, Shankar Kumar, was caught red-handed receiving Rs 75,000 as a bribe near the State Tax Commissioner’s office.
The vigilance team’s operation was prompted by a complaint from a local businessman whose bank account had been frozen by the department. Allegedly, a bribe of Rs 1 lakh was demanded to resolve the issue, which was later negotiated down to Rs 75,000. Authorities revealed that the bribe was being extorted on behalf of a State Tax Officer, with the peon, Shankar Kumar, acting as the intermediary for collecting the money.
Following the complaint, a trap was set by the vigilance team resulting in the peon’s arrest while accepting the bribe. The seized cash has been recovered, and legal proceedings have been initiated. Further investigations are underway to determine the involvement of other officials in this case. This incident underscores the persistent issue of corruption in government departments and the vigilance department’s continuous efforts to combat such malpractices in Bihar.
In a separate incident on December 23, a sub-inspector in Siwan district was also apprehended while accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000. The officer, Kanhaiya Kumar Singh, stationed at the Siswan police station, was linked to a land dispute case reported earlier. The officer was accused of demanding a bribe from a complainant in exchange for altering case details. The vigilance department was alerted, leading to the officer’s arrest in a trap set by the authorities.
