Patna, Aug 1 (IANS) A shocking allegation of corruption surfaced during a public hearing conducted by Bihar’s Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister Lakhendra Kumar Raushan alias Lakhendra Paswan on Saturday, after a man from Sitamarhi alleged that a Rs 50,000 bribe was being demanded to release his pending grant under the SC/ST Act.
The complainant, Kamlesh Paswan, told the minister that he was being asked to pay the money in connection with the release of the grant amount related to SC/ST case number 129/26.
Taking the complaint seriously, Minister Lakhendra Paswan asked Kamlesh to immediately call the concerned data entry operator.
The complainant made the call in the minister’s presence. During the conversation, the data entry operator allegedly reiterated the demand for Rs 50,000, leaving officials and others present at the hearing stunned.
Following the alleged bribe demand, the minister immediately contacted the District Welfare Officer (DWO) of Sitamarhi and asked about the identity of the employee concerned.
The officer informed him that Chandan Kumar was working as a data entry operator in the department.
The minister then directed the DWO to suspend the employee immediately and initiate appropriate action.
He also warned that failure to act within one hour would invite action against the concerned officer.
Lakhendra Paswan said the Bihar government was following a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and that allegations of bribery or irregularities involving government employees would not be ignored.
He directed officials to conduct an impartial inquiry and take departmental as well as legal action if the allegations were established.
The minister also assured complainant Kamlesh Paswan that his grievance would be examined fairly.
He said that if Kamlesh was found eligible for the grant under the applicable rules, the amount would be released without any unnecessary hindrance.
The alleged bribe demand has triggered an investigation within the department.
However, no response from the accused data entry operator, Chandan Kumar, was available at the time of filing this report.
The allegations will therefore need to be verified through the departmental investigation before responsibility is conclusively established.
–IANS
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