Rudraprayag district programme officer Uday Pratap Singh was caught red-handed while accepting `5,000 as bribe from Jasmati Rawat, gram pradhan, Kawiltha under Ukhimath block, Rudraprayag on Wednesday.
The bribe was sought for releasing final installment of `45, 000 for completing the construction of Anganwadi centre, said SP (Vigilance) Dehradun VKS Karki.
Meanwhile, another vigilance department team raided the house of the accused district programme officer Singh, located in Dehradun, on Wednesday evening to collect some documents related to the case.
In her written complaint, Rawat stated that she had approached the programme officer Singh, requesting him to release `45, 000 to complete the Anganwadi centre. He had sought `20, 000 form her to release `45, 000 for the same, she complained.
Sources said that the Anganwadi centre was to be constructed with the expense of `4.5 lakh-the fund the state government had released. Around Rs 4 lakh was released to gram pradhan Rawat by the officers concerned. But she alleged that she had to shell out bribes to department officer concerned to have `4 lakh released.
Angered over the district programme officer demanding bribe repeatedly, Rawat had approached the vigilance department, sector Dehradun on October 5 and registered a complaint.
SP Karki said that after verifying the initial complaint with the help of vigilance inspector Jawahar lal on October 6, the teams led by vigilance sector circle officer (CO) Jaya Baluni had drafted a plan to trap the accused. SP Vigilance subsequently formed a trap team. But as the district programme officer was a gazetted one, the vigilance department sought permission from the Rudraprayag magistrate and others before going for the operation. After the consent was obtained, the team went forward to trap the accused.
Following the direction of vigilance officer, Rawat again met the programme officer and finalised the deal. Karki announced reward to the team members for cracking the case.
To stamp out corruption rampant in government departments and offices, vigilance department has taken several measures recently. SP Karki appealed to the people to inform the vigilance department through toll -free numbers- 1800-180- 6666 if the government officials demand bribe to have their works done.
A page on Facebook- Fight against Corruption Uttarakhand- has been opened for the purpose. People can also inform the department through facebook. In addition, people can inform the department about the persons who are having assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
One may personally or otherwise inform the department regarding the same. Complainants can also report vigilance department through mobile numbers 9456591894 and 9411112739. “We would have zero tolerance for grafts the officers indulge in,” Karki stated. Uttarakhand Vigilance department is mulling to set up two sub-sectors (vigilance) in Garhwal region. Sub-sector (vigilance) will be set up at Tehri and Pauri. A proposal has been sent to the State Government regarding the same, he added.