Anti-corruption authorities in West Bengal have cracked down on administrative bribery in Jhargram district by apprehending a government official during a sting operation. Officials from the state Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) arrested Bimal Saha, a sub-assistant engineer stationed at the Jamboni Block Development Office (BDO Office), while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh in cash. The swift operation has created widespread panic across local administrative departments.
Demand for Bribe Over Pending Construction Bills
According to details associated with the case, sub-assistant engineer Bimal Saha was targeted after allegedly withholding official payment clearances related to a local infrastructure project. Construction work on a regional sub-health center had been successfully completed earlier by a sub-contractor. However, the final settlement and bill clearance remained pending. Bimal Saha reportedly demanded a payment of Rs 2 lakh from the sub-contractor as an illegal fee to process the official documentation and release the pending funds.
ACB Lays Trap for Red-Handed Arrest
Unwilling to yield to corrupt demands, the aggrieved sub-contractor filed a formal complaint with the Anti-Corruption Branch. Upon verifying the claim, the ACB formed a special tactical plan to apprehend the official. As part of the operation, the complainant met engineer Bimal Saha on Thursday evening at a designated location to hand over the money. The moment Bimal Saha accepted the cash, waiting ACB operatives swooped in and took him into custody. The team successfully recovered the entire Rs 2 lakh cash sum from the engineer at the scene.
Investigating Wider Administrative Links
Following his red-handed arrest, ACB officers placed Bimal Saha under intensive interrogation. Investigators are examining whether the sub-assistant engineer was operating independently or if higher-ranking administrative officers within the BDO setup were colluding in the bribery network. The successful trap has sent a firm deterrent message throughout the region, reassuring local contractors and citizens that strict enforcement against corruption will continue.
