Bettiah: A sub-inspector posted in Bihar has been jailed after allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 13.49 lakh from a man in exchange for securing a job for his son in the state police. The case came to light after an audio clip of the officer negotiating the bribe went viral.
The accused, Dev Mohan Singh, was posted in Patna but was earlier stationed at the traffic police station in Bettiah. He is a resident of Godda Dariyapur in Jharkhand. Dev was arrested by the Sathi Police following a complaint by Raghunath Pandit, a resident of Bhediharwa in Sathi, Bettiah.
According to the complaint, Raghunath paid the amount to Dev between cash and digital transactions, believing that his son, Jitendra Pandit—who had cleared the preliminary and mains exams for the sub-inspector recruitment—would be secured a position after the physical test.
The incident traces back to May 11, 2024, when Raghunath visited a local clothing shop owned by an acquaintance near Bettiah bus stand. There, he met Dev, who allegedly claimed to have contacts with senior officials overseeing recruitment and assured Pandit that his son would pass the physical test.
Out of desperation and trust, Raghunath handed over Rs 2 lakh in cash and Rs 2,50,500 through a digital payment app in the initial round of transactions. Over time, the total bribe paid came to Rs 13,49,000.
A crucial turning point in the case was the circulation of an audio clip in which the inspector can be heard discussing the bribe and assuring job confirmation. The clip, widely shared on social media, triggered public outrage and prompted swift police action.
Sources indicate that Dev may have defrauded multiple individuals using similar promises of police recruitment. Authorities are investigating further leads and verifying other possible victims.
