The Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) on Tuesday apprehended Siyaram Rai, the village head (mukhiya) of Rajchak Bahauddin gram panchayat in Samastipur district, while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1.20 lakh from a complainant. The arrest was made by a VIB headquarters team during a carefully planned trap operation.
Details of the Complaint
The action followed a formal complaint lodged by Abdul Mannan, a panchayat teacher and resident of the same village. In his complaint, Mannan alleged that Rai, who was also functioning as the panchayat secretary, had demanded a bribe to revoke his suspension. The complainant stated that the accused had been pressuring him for the illegal payment to lift the disciplinary action.
Verification and Case Registration
After receiving the complaint, the VIB conducted a thorough verification process and found prima facie evidence supporting the allegation. A case was registered on June 9, and a special investigation team was constituted under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police, Amarendra Prasad Vidyarthi. The team acted swiftly to ensure a successful operation.
The Trap Operation
Acting on the complaint, the vigilance team laid a trap and caught Rai red-handed while he was accepting Rs 1.20 lakh from Mannan at his cosmetics shop near Gudri Pul in Dalsinghsarai. The accused was taken into custody immediately after the transaction was completed. Officials confirmed that the money was recovered from his possession.
Legal Proceedings
Following his arrest, Rai was interrogated by the VIB team. He will be produced before the special vigilance court in Muzaffarpur, where further legal proceedings will take place. Officials stated that the investigation is ongoing and additional details may emerge as the case progresses. The arrest underscores the commitment of the VIB to tackle corruption at the grassroots level.
