ACB arrests Chatra revenue employee while allegedly accepting Rs 15,000 bribe

The Hazaribagh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday arrested a revenue employee of Sadar Circle in Chatra while allegedly accepting Rs 15,000 as the first instalment of a bribe for processing a land mutation.

The accused, identified as revenue employee Satish Prasad, was arrested from the employee building on the premises of the Sadar block office. The action followed a complaint by Tulsi Yadav, a resident of Naya Khap under Gidhaur police station area.

According to the complaint, Prasad, posted in Halka No. 7 of Sadar Circle, had allegedly demanded Rs 30,000 for processing the mutation of a piece of land.

After receiving the complaint, the ACB conducted a preliminary verification of the allegations. The verification reportedly confirmed the demand for a bribe, following which the agency planned a trap operation.

On Tuesday, the complainant was asked to hand over Rs 15,000 as the first instalment. At around 12:45 p.m., he reached the employee building on the Sadar block office premises and handed over the money to Prasad.

The ACB team, which was monitoring the operation, immediately intervened and caught the revenue employee allegedly while accepting the money.

Following the arrest, the ACB team also searched the accused's office and examined documents and official records related to land and other work handled by him.

ACB Superintendent of Police Arif Ikram confirmed the action.

After completing the necessary formalities, the accused was taken to Hazaribagh by the ACB team. He is expected to be produced before the court, following which further legal proceedings will be initiated.

The arrest led to considerable discussion at the circle and block offices in Chatra. The ACB action also underlined the agency's ongoing efforts to crack down on alleged demands for bribes in government offices.