The Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) arrested two employees of a primary health centre in Bihar’s Vaishali district after they allegedly demanded Rs 8,600 to release Rs 1.29 lakh in pending payments to a community health officer, officials said. The arrests took place at Patedhi Belsar PHC after a vigilance trap operation.
The accused were identified as Dr Kamini Prasad, the in-charge medical officer at Patedhi Belsar PHC, and data entry operator Himanshu Kumar. According to the complaint, the two allegedly sought money from Jaipal Singh, a community health officer posted at an Ayushman Arogya Mandir in Patedhi Belsar.
Singh alleged that the demanded payment was linked to the release of pending incentives, mobile recharge dues and transport allowances. The total amount pending to him was stated to be Rs 1,29,800. The VIB said its team verified the complaint before carrying out the trap and arresting the two employees while they were allegedly accepting the money at the health centre.
VIB director general J S Gangwar said the operation was led by deputy superintendent of police Basudev Rai. A case was registered on October 8, according to the report. The allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.
The bureau also searched Dr Prasad’s residence in Kankarbagh Colony, Patna. During the search, officials reported recovering Rs 15 lakh in cash, bank deposits of Rs 99 lakh, gold and silver jewellery, and insurance policies. The reported recovery is part of the investigation and does not by itself establish the source or legality of the assets.
The case highlights the administrative chain through which payments to frontline health workers are processed. At the PHC level, medical officers and data-entry staff can become points of contact for workers seeking the release or tracking of incentives and allowances. When such payments are delayed or depend on informal access to officials, the process can leave workers vulnerable to alleged demands for money.
The arrest also comes amid an increase in vigilance action recorded by the bureau in Bihar. The VIB said this was its 119th corruption case in the state in 2026. It has registered 109 trap cases this year, arrested 110 accused and recovered Rs 38,17,400 in alleged bribe money, according to the report.
The two accused are expected to be produced before the Special Vigilance Court in Muzaffarpur after interrogation. The VIB said further investigation was underway.
