Sleuths from the Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) caught red-handed the circle officer of Kurhani in Muzaffarpur district on Friday while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000.
According to the VIB officials, one Mithilesh Kumar of Mankauli village under Kurhani circle had complained about circle officer Pankaj Kumar and chowkidar Pranav for demanding money to fix the boundary of his land and remove the encroachments on it.
“We verified the complaint and found it to be true. An FIR was registered at the vigilance police station and a raiding team led by deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal was dispatched. It arrested
the concerned circle officer while taking Rs 40,000 bribe,” a senior VIB official said.
The VIB sleuths had laced the currency notes with phenolphthalein compound, which gives a pink or red hue on coming in contact with water.
It indicates that the accused had touched the notes handed to him by the complainant. This is how the phrase “caught red-handed” gained currency.
The arrested officer will be questioned and presented before the special vigilance court in Muzaffarpur.