The Vigilance Investigation Bureau in Bihar has arrested a senior agriculture department official while he was allegedly accepting a bribe, unearthing a trail of extortion that pushed a victim to sell his car and pawn his wife's jewellery.
Officer Caught Red-Handed in Muzaffarpur
Sudhir Kumar, the District Agriculture Officer (DAO) of Muzaffarpur, was caught red-handed on Saturday by a vigilance team while accepting a bribe of Rs 19,000. Kumar, who also held the additional charges of Project Director of the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) and Joint Director (Crops) for the Tirhut division, was apprehended at his residence in the Mithanpura area of Muzaffarpur.
The trap was laid based on a complaint filed by Santosh Sah, a contractual worker in the same department. According to the victim's complaint, Sudhir Kumar had initially demanded a massive bribe of Rs 1.81 lakh. This payment was for granting Sah an extension in service and reinstating him as the Block Technical Manager in Sahebganj.
Victim's Ordeal: Loan, Jewellery, and Car Sold
The victim, Santosh Sah, stated that he had already paid the demanded Rs 1.81 lakh on December 5 last year. To arrange this substantial sum, he was forced to take a bank loan, pawn his wife's jewellery, and even sell his car. Despite making this hefty payment, the officer continued to pressure him for an additional bribe of Rs 19,000.
Frustrated by the unending demands, Sah finally approached the vigilance department in Patna and lodged a formal complaint on December 11. After preliminary verification confirmed the allegations, a special team was formed to set up a trap.
On Saturday, when the complainant went to Sudhir Kumar's residence to hand over the remaining Rs 19,000, the vigilance team, already positioned there, swooped in and caught the officer with the cash.
Raids Uncover Cash, Jewellery, and Documents
DSP Mithilesh Kumar of the vigilance department confirmed the arrest along with the seizure of the bribe money. "After questioning, the accused will be produced before the special vigilance court in Muzaffarpur. Further investigation is underway," the DSP said.
Following the arrest, the vigilance team conducted searches at the officer's properties. A raid on his three-storey house on Ambedkar Path under the Rupaspur police station in Patna led to the recovery of over Rs 11 lakh in cash, more than 250 grams of gold and silver jewellery, and numerous investment documents.
Searches are also ongoing at his rented residence in Muzaffarpur and his offices as DAO and Joint Director (Crops) in the Mithanpura area. The case highlights the severe crackdown on corruption by the state's vigilance authorities.
