Manrega PO arrested accepting bribe in Gopalganj

Alok Mishra

Gopalganj: Sleuths of State Vigilance Investigation Bureau on December 23 netted MANREGA project officer (PO) Manish Kumar and Rojgar Sewak Anil Ram red-handed taking bribe from Mathiya Hardo panchayat mukhiya for sanctioning schemes under MANREGA.

Locals said that Mathiya Hardo panchayat mukhiya Ashok Kumar Gupta was visiting the office of PO for the past several months for allotment of a scheme worth Rs. 2.40 lakh. The PO was demanding 10% as his share for sanctioning the amount. Gupta took up the matter with ADG, Vigilance, and a Vigilance team reached Kuchaikot  two days back and into the allegation.

The Vigilance team on Friday reached block office at around 9 am and waited for the arrival of PO. The PO reached his office at around 10.30 am and the mukhiya handed him the documents. Both of them had a talk and the mukhiya handed over Rs 20,000 cash to PO. As the PO entered his office with the cash, he along with Rojgar Sewak were arrested by the Vigilance sleuths. Later, the Vigilance team left for Muzaffarpur with arrested persons.