Jehanabad: In a major action against corruption, the Vigilance Department of Jehanabad, Bihar, arrested a revenue official while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000. Avinash Kumar, who works in the Sadar block, was caught red-handed following a complaint from a retired Air Force officer, Pushkar Kumar. The officer alleged that Kumar had been demanding money for several months to process the mutation of his land, a routine administrative procedure.
Pushkar Kumar explained that he had applied online for the mutation of his property, but the application was rejected without any explanation. When he met Avinash Kumar to inquire about the delay, the official demanded Rs 5,000 to complete the process. “I had applied online for the mutation of my land, which was rejected. When I asked Avinash Kumar about it, he demanded 5,000 rupees. I complained to the Vigilance Department, and today he was arrested,” said Kumar, expressing relief at the swift action taken.
The Vigilance Department immediately registered a case and carried out a sting operation. Avinash Kumar was caught in his office at Sadar block while taking the bribe. After the arrest, the vigilance team took him to Patna for further questioning. Officials confirmed that he will be sent to jail following the legal procedures. The arrest has been welcomed by residents and is seen as an example of prompt action against corruption.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges citizens face in government offices, where officials sometimes demand bribes for routine tasks such as land mutations. It also underlines the importance of vigilance and strict enforcement in ensuring transparency and accountability. For citizens like Pushkar Kumar, timely intervention by the vigilance authorities ensures that public services are delivered fairly and without illegal demands.
