SVU Arrests Kishanganj ICDS Officer Anita Kumari for Accepting Rs50,000 Bribe
In a significant crackdown on corruption, the Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) of Bihar arrested Anita Kumari, the District Programme Officer (DPO) of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in Thakurganj, Kishanganj district, on Friday. The arrest was made for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs50,000 from a subordinate official.
Details of the Bribery Case
According to an official statement released by the SVU, the case originated from a complaint filed by Nagendra Kumar, a resident of Jagdishpur Tiyari under the Noorsarai police station area in Nalanda district. Kumar, who was posted as the Child Development Programme Officer (CDPO) in Kochadhaman, Kishanganj, alleged that Anita Kumari threatened to frame charges against him and secure his suspension from service.
To avoid this disciplinary action, she demanded a bribe of Rs10 lakh from him. Based on this complaint, the vigilance team set up a trap and successfully caught Anita Kumari red-handed while she was accepting Rs50,000 as the first instalment of the demanded bribe.
Operation and Recovery
The operation was conducted by an eight-member team led by SVU DSP Luv Kumar. Following the arrest, the SVU registered case number 08/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. During a subsequent search operation at Anita Kumari's residence, authorities recovered an additional Rs4 lakh in cash.
It is suspected that this amount may also be linked to bribery activities, although further investigation is ongoing to determine its exact origin and purpose.
Legal Proceedings and Implications
The accused officer is scheduled to be produced before the vigilance court in Patna on Saturday. This arrest highlights the ongoing efforts by the SVU to combat corruption within government departments, particularly in schemes like ICDS that are crucial for child welfare and development.
This incident underscores the severe consequences of corrupt practices and serves as a warning to other officials engaged in similar illegal activities. The SVU's proactive approach in laying traps based on complaints demonstrates a commitment to upholding integrity in public service.
