Patna: The special vigilance unit (SVU), Patna, on Wednesday arrested Bhushan Prasad, an assistant engineer working with the Bihar Education Project, from his residence in Purnia while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000. During the raid, the SVU team recovered unaccounted cash and digital evidence from his house.SVU additional director general (ADG) Pankaj Kumar Darad said, “The complainant, Nandan Kumar Jha , a resident of Hemnagar village under Sarsi police station in Purnia district, had lodged a complaint with the SVU on April 15. Jha alleged that Prasad demanded Rs 10,000 for signing the measurement book (MB) related to the payment of a govt school building constructed by him in Dagaraua block of the district.”During inspection of the project, Prasad allegedly told the complainant that he would not sign the MB unless the demanded amount was paid. He was also accused of seeking a commission of 6% of the MB value for clearing bills. Following verification of the complaint, a seven-member SVU team led by DSP Raj Kumar Singh conducted a raid at Prasad’s residence in Shantinagar on District School Road, Purnia, and caught him red-handed while accepting the bribe.The DSP said Rs 54,000 in cash was recovered from under a pillow during the search. The team also examined the engineer’s laptop and cellphone, and questioned his family members. Prasad is a native of Purnia, the DSP added.According to officials, several important documents and digital evidence were seized. Contractors had earlier complained that Prasad, who is currently posted in Katihar and was earlier in Purnia, demanded money for clearing bills of education department building projects. They submitted digital proof, including records of transfers of Rs 10,000, Rs 4,000 and Rs 16,000 to the engineer, along with call recordings.
