Patna: Bihar’s anti-corruption watchdog, the Vigilance Investigation Bureau, has arrested two government officials in separate bribery cases following trap operations conducted on Tuesday. The arrests came after formal complaints alleging demands for illegal payments in connection with official duties.
Officials said the bureau first verified the complaints and, after finding the allegations credible, formed specialised teams to execute coordinated trap operations. The action triggered concern within the respective government departments and underscored ongoing scrutiny of public officials over corruption allegations.
In the first case, a survey amin was arrested while allegedly accepting Rs 20,000 in exchange for clearing pending land survey work. A vigilance team laid a trap and apprehended the accused from his rented accommodation, recovering the marked currency during the operation led by a deputy superintendent of police.
In a separate incident, a block supply officer was caught accepting Rs 10,000 for allegedly facilitating increased allocation of food grains under the public distribution system. Investigators said the arrest followed verification of a complaint, after which a trap was set and the official was detained from his residence.
Authorities confirmed that both accused are being questioned and legal procedures are underway. They are expected to be produced before a designated special court after completion of formalities. The vigilance bureau has indicated that similar anti-corruption operations will continue as part of broader efforts to strengthen accountability in public administration.
