Bihar Dairy Development Officer Arrested in Bribery Sting Operation
In a significant anti-corruption operation, the Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) of Bihar arrested a field officer from the district dairy development department on Friday. The arrest took place in West Champaran district while the officer was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000.
Details of the Corruption Case
The accused officer, identified as Anurag Abhishek, was stationed at the department's office in Banu Chapar, Hajma Tola under Bettiah. According to vigilance officials, a vigilance team from Patna apprehended Abhishek following a formal complaint filed by a local cattle rearer named Bablu Kumar, who resides in the Gaunaha block area.
The complaint revealed a disturbing pattern of extortion. Kumar explained that the officer had demanded money to process his application for benefits under a government dairy development scheme for the fiscal year 2025-26. Kumar's subsidy application for Rs 3.90 lakh had already been approved, with approximately Rs 1.95 lakh released as the first installment.
Sequence of Demands and the Trap
Kumar alleged that after his application received approval, Officer Abhishek initially extracted Rs 32,000 from him under the pretext of "office expenses." Subsequently, the officer allegedly demanded an additional Rs 30,000 to complete formalities related to insurance and documentation. Feeling exploited, Kumar lodged a written complaint with the VIB, which set up a trap operation.
Vigilance DSP Mithilesh Kumar stated that the officer was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe directly from the sanctioned subsidy amount intended for the complainant. The accused has been taken into custody and is being transported to Patna for further legal proceedings and interrogation, the DSP confirmed.
Broader Anti-Corruption Context in Bihar
This incident is not isolated. The VIB disclosed that this case marks the 31st trap operation registered in Bihar in 2026 as part of its ongoing anti-corruption campaign. The statistics for the year so far are telling:
- 20 accused persons have been arrested in connection with bribery cases.
- A total bribe amount of Rs 8.45 lakh has been recovered through these vigilance operations.
The arrest underscores the persistent challenges of corruption at the grassroots level, particularly in schemes meant to benefit farmers and rural communities. It highlights the vigilance department's continued efforts to curb such malpractices in government offices across the state.
