Bihar: Khagaria MGNREGA PO, accountant nabbed for accepting Rs 45,000 bribe

Patna, July 28 (IANS) Despite frequent crackdowns by the Vigilance Investigation Bureau, corruption continues to plague government offices in Bihar.

In the latest case on Tuesday, two government officials posted in Khagaria district were caught red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 45,000.

The Vigilance Investigation Bureau arrested an MGNREGA Programme Officer (PO) and an accountant of Alauli block during a trap operation on charges of demanding and accepting a bribe from a vendor.

The accused have been identified as Programme Officer Raman Ji Bhai and Accountant Shahid Akram.

According to an official, Raman Ji Bhai had allegedly demanded the bribe in exchange for clearing payment to a vendor under the MGNREGA scheme.

Acting on a complaint, the Vigilance Investigation Bureau verified the allegations and laid a trap.

The team apprehended both officials while they were accepting Rs 45,000 in cash at the Alauli block office.

Raman Ji Bhai also holds the additional charge of Programme Officer for the Chautham block.

Both accused have been taken into custody and are being questioned by the Vigilance team.

The successful trap operation has created a stir in government offices across the district.

The Vigilance Investigation Bureau has initiated further legal proceedings, and the investigation into the case is continuing.

An FIR has been registered against the two alleged officers under the relevant section at the Vigilance Police Station in Patna.

They will be produced in the Vigilance court on Wednesday.

Earlier on July 6, the Bihar Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) arrested a clerk posted at the Dhanrua Circle Office in Patna district after allegedly catching him red-handed while accepting a Rs 50,000 bribe for processing a Jamabandi (land record mutation) application.

The accused has been identified as Shailesh Kumar, who has been serving at the Dhanrua Circle Office for the past three years.

According to Vigilance Deputy Superintendent of Police Asif Rafiq Mehdi, the Bureau received a complaint on June 17, 2026, from Rajkumar, the son of Chitaranjan Singh and a resident of Ramnibigha village in the Dhanrua police station limits.

–IANS

ajk/khz