Bihar Industries Department GM arrested accepting Rs 50,000 bribe in Araria

The Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) of Bihar has arrested Anil Kumar Mandal, General Manager of the Industries Department in Araria district, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000.

According to Vigilance DSP Satish Chandra Madhav, the arrest followed a complaint from machinery supplier Kamre Alam, who alleged that Mandal was demanding money to process payments and complete official formalities related to machinery supplied to beneficiaries.

The complainant told the Vigilance Bureau that machinery worth around Rs 17 lakh had been supplied and that the General Manager allegedly sought a 5 per cent commission, which worked out to approximately Rs 85,000.

Following the complaint, Vigilance officials conducted a preliminary verification of the allegations. The agency said the complaint was substantiated during the verification, following which a trap operation was planned under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

A team led by DSP Satish Chandra Madhav subsequently reached Mandal’s rented accommodation in Araria. During the operation, the officer was allegedly caught accepting Rs 50,000.

The Vigilance team recovered the alleged bribe amount and arrested Mandal at the spot.

Following his arrest, the accused official was taken into custody and is being questioned by Vigilance officials. He is expected to be produced before the Special Court of the Vigilance Investigation Bureau in Patna.

The agency is continuing its investigation into the alleged bribe demand and is also examining whether other officials or individuals were involved in the transaction.

The arrest has drawn attention in administrative circles in Araria and comes amid stepped-up action by Bihar’s Vigilance authorities against alleged corruption in government departments.

Another official arrested in West Champaran

The latest action follows another bribery arrest by the VIB earlier this month.

On August 5, the agency arrested Panchayat Secretary Shankar Prasad while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 in connection with payment under the Nal-Jal scheme in Maldahiya Panchayat of Narkatiaganj block in West Champaran district.

The series of arrests highlights the Vigilance Bureau’s continued focus on complaints involving alleged bribery and corruption at different levels of the state administration.
 

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