Bihar Education Project Engineer Caught Red-Handed in Bribery Sting Operation
The Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) of Patna executed a dramatic arrest on Wednesday, apprehending Bhushan Prasad, an assistant engineer with the Bihar Education Project, from his residence in Purnia. The arrest occurred as Prasad was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000, marking a significant development in the state's anti-corruption efforts.
Complaint and Allegations Lead to Swift Action
The case originated from a formal complaint filed by Nandan Kumar Jha, a resident of Hemnagar village under the Sarsi police station in Purnia district. Jha approached the SVU on April 15, alleging that Prasad had demanded Rs 10,000 to sign the measurement book (MB) related to payment for a government school building constructed by Jha in the Dagaraua block.
According to SVU Additional Director General (ADG) Pankaj Kumar Darad, Prasad explicitly told the complainant during a project inspection that he would not authorize the MB without the demanded payment. Furthermore, the engineer was accused of seeking a commission of 6% of the MB value for clearing bills, a practice that contractors had reportedly complained about previously.
Raiding Team Recovers Substantial Evidence
Following thorough verification of the complaint, a seven-member SVU team, led by DSP Raj Kumar Singh, conducted a meticulously planned raid at Prasad's residence in Shantinagar on District School Road, Purnia. The operation culminated in Prasad being caught red-handed while accepting the bribe money.
During the subsequent search, investigators recovered Rs 54,000 in cash concealed under a pillow. The team also seized several important documents and digital evidence, including the engineer's laptop and cellphone, which were examined for further leads. Family members present at the residence were questioned as part of the investigation.
Pattern of Corruption Uncovered
Officials revealed that this arrest is not an isolated incident. Contractors had earlier submitted complaints alleging that Prasad, who is currently posted in Katihar and was previously stationed in Purnia, routinely demanded money for clearing bills related to education department building projects.
The digital evidence provided by contractors included records of monetary transfers amounting to Rs 10,000, Rs 4,000, and Rs 16,000 made to the engineer, along with incriminating call recordings. This pattern suggests a systematic approach to extracting bribes, highlighting broader issues within project oversight mechanisms.
Prasad, a native of Purnia, now faces serious charges under anti-corruption laws. The SVU's action underscores the ongoing vigilance against graft in public projects, particularly in sectors like education where timely payments are crucial for infrastructure development.
