Patna, Sep 1: In a major anti-corruption operation, the Vigilance Investigation Bureau arrested Amit Pratap Singh, Block Development Officer (BDO) of Phulidumar block in Banka district, while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 75,000 on Tuesday.

The trap operation was conducted at the BDO’s private residence in Nehru Colony, Banka town.

Following the arrest, the Vigilance team took the BDO and his maternal uncle, Bachchan Prasad Singh, who was present at the residence, to the Banka Circuit House for questioning.

According to the Vigilance Department, Phulidumar Block Pramukh Gautam Prakash had submitted a written complaint to the Vigilance Bureau in Patna.

He alleged that the BDO was demanding Rs 75,000 in exchange for granting administrative approval and facilitating the withdrawal of funds for various development schemes under the Panchayati Raj Department.

Following the complaint, the Vigilance Bureau conducted a preliminary verification of the allegations.

The verification reportedly confirmed the demand for a bribe, following which a trap team was constituted.

A team led by a DSP-rank officer reached the BDO’s residence in Nehru Colony on Tuesday morning and laid a trap.

According to an official, the Block Pramukh handed over the agreed amount of Rs 75,000 to the BDO, following which the Vigilance personnel immediately apprehended him.

The arrest has caused a stir in administrative circles in Banka, from the Phulidumar block office to the district headquarters.

The arrest came a day after the BDO was involved in another controversy.

On Monday, a heated altercation and scuffle reportedly broke out between Amit Pratap Singh and former Mukhiya Sanjeev Mandal over the issuance of a birth certificate.

Following a complaint lodged by the BDO in connection with that incident, police arrested the former Mukhiya and sent him to judicial custody.

The BDO’s arrest in the alleged bribery case the following day has drawn considerable attention in the district.

The Vigilance team is currently completing the necessary legal formalities.

The accused persons are expected to be produced before the Special Vigilance Court in Patna for further proceedings.

Patna, Sep 1: Sanjeev Mukhiya, whose name surfaced prominently in connection with the Patna NEET-UG question paper leak case in 2024, has received relief from a special court, which ordered his release from judicial custody after the CBI did not file a chargesheet against him.

The order was passed during a hearing on Monday evening, when Mukhiya appeared before the court through video conferencing.

The court directed his release after considering the status of the CBI investigation and the absence of a chargesheet against him.

However, he will stay in jail in another case.

Mukhiya had come under the scrutiny of investigating agencies after his alleged links to the NEET-UG paper leak surfaced.

The CBI had interrogated him and examined his possible role in the network allegedly involved in the leakage and distribution of the question paper.

However, during the course of its investigation, the agency did not file a charge sheet against Mukhiya.

The absence of sufficient evidence to proceed against him was taken into consideration during the court proceedings.

The CBI has investigated the roles of several accused in the NEET-UG paper leak case and, according to reports, has filed charge sheets against 45 accused persons.

The agency examined the alleged chain of events from the leakage of the question paper to its distribution among candidates.

The NEET-UG paper leak case came to light in 2024, following which the Bihar Police initially investigated the matter.

The Central government subsequently handed over the investigation to the CBI.

The CBI registered its own case on June 23, 2024, as RC-224/2024. A separate case had earlier been registered by the Bihar Police at Shastri Nagar police station in Patna as Case No. 358/2024.

After taking over the probe, the CBI questioned several suspects, examined documents and investigated the alleged network involved in the paper leak and the subsequent distribution of the question paper.

Sanjeev Mukhiya’s name emerged during the investigation, leading the agency to examine his alleged role.

He was questioned and subjected to remand proceedings, prompting speculation that he could eventually be chargesheeted.

However, the CBI ultimately did not file a chargesheet against him.

Based on the current status of the investigation, the special court has now ordered his release from judicial custody after the required bail bonds were furnished.

The court’s order provides Mukhiya relief from continued judicial custody in this case.

However, the order should not be interpreted as a judicial finding that all allegations surrounding the broader NEET-UG paper leak case have been disproved.

New Delhi, Sep 1: The Delhi Police on Tuesday apprehended two Bangladeshi nationals for violating the conditions of their respective visas by overstaying beyond the permissible period.

The action was taken by the Foreigner Cell of the Special Staff, Central District, during a special verification drive conducted under Operation VISTA 1.0 (Visa Status Verification).

The apprehended foreign nationals were identified as Jomir Hossen, 25, and Maksuda Akter, 39. Both Hossen and Akter are residents of Bangladesh.

According to the police, both foreign nationals had entered India on Double-Entry Visas that permitted them to stay in the country for a maximum of 15 days per visit. During verification, they were found staying beyond the permissible period, thereby violating the conditions of their visas.

As part of the special verification drive, the Foreigner Cell conducted checks at various hotels and guest houses in the Central District area. During the operation, the police team reached a hotel on Arakashan Road in Nabi Karim, where Hossen was found staying. He had entered India on July 9.

Thereafter, the team conducted verification at another hotel in Chandi Walan Main Bazar, Paharganj, where Akter was found staying. She had entered India on July 27.

The police thoroughly checked and verified the passports, visas and other travel documents of both foreign nationals.

The operation was conducted by a dedicated team of the Foreigner Cell, Special Staff, Central District, under the leadership of Inspector Sandeep Yadav, I/C Special Staff, Central District, and under the overall supervision of ACP/Operations Padam Singh Rana.

The team comprised Sub-Inspectors Ombeer Singh Tyagi and Satish, Head Constables Narender, Yogesh, Vikas and Manish, Constable Lokesh and Woman Constable Kiran.

During questioning and verification, the two foreign nationals were asked about their stay in India and their travel documents were scrutinised. The verification established that both had entered India on Double-Entry Visas carrying a condition permitting a maximum stay of 15 days per visit.

The police said both were found to have exceeded the permissible duration of stay and were consequently apprehended for violation of visa conditions.

Following completion of the verification process, both foreign nationals were produced before the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for further legal proceedings.

Subsequently, the FRRO issued Restriction Orders directing their placement at the Detention Centre, Sewa Dham, Shahzada Bagh, Sarai Rohilla, Delhi.

Accordingly, both foreign nationals were lodged at the detention centre, where they will remain pending further deportation proceedings as per law.

The Delhi Police said the operation was part of its efforts to verify the visa status and compliance of foreign nationals staying in the Central District.