In a significant crackdown on corruption, two officials of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) in Rohtak were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from a private bus operator. The arrests were made by the Haryana State Vigilance Bureau following a complaint lodged by the bus operator, who claimed that the officials had demanded the bribe to clear his pending documents.
Details of the Arrest
The accused have been identified as RTA Secretary Rajesh Kumar and Enforcement Inspector Jai Bhagwan. According to the vigilance bureau, the duo was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe amount at the RTA office in Rohtak. The bus operator had approached the bureau earlier this week, alleging that the officials were demanding money to process his vehicle registration and fitness certificates.
Operation by Vigilance Bureau
A team of vigilance officials, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rajender Singh, laid a trap and apprehended the two RTA officials during the transaction. The entire operation was conducted under the supervision of Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh Kumar of the vigilance bureau. The bribe money was recovered from the possession of the accused, and they were taken into custody for further investigation.
Legal Action and Investigation
The accused have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and further legal proceedings are underway. The vigilance bureau is also probing whether there were any other beneficiaries involved in this corrupt practice. This arrest is part of a broader drive by the Haryana government to eliminate corruption from public offices, especially those dealing with transport and licensing.
Reacting to the incident, RTA officials stated that strict action would be taken against any employee found guilty of corruption. They also urged the public to report such incidents to the authorities for prompt action.
