Prayagraj. In a major crackdown on corruption in the Uttar Pradesh Roadways department, the Anti-Corruption Organization team arrested Arvind Kumar Mishra, Assistant Regional Manager (ARM) of Zero Road Depot, red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹8,000. The arrest took place on Monday at the ARM office located in Rajapur, when the accused was reportedly receiving illegal gratification from a complainant.
The Complaint and Bribery Demand
According to officials, the case originated from a formal complaint filed by Sangam Sonkar, a resident of Pippalgaon in the Dhumaniganj police station area. The complainant alleged that ARM Arvind Kumar Mishra was repeatedly demanding bribes in exchange for performing official duties related to bus conductors.
The complaint stated that the accused had demanded ₹8,000 for ensuring smooth duty allocation of a conductor on the Mirzapur–Shaktinagar route and for correcting the Annual Confidential Entry (ACE) in the service record of another conductor. It was further alleged that administrative work was being deliberately stalled unless illegal payments were made, putting employees under pressure.
The Anti-Corruption Trap Operation
After receiving the complaint, the Anti-Corruption Organization treated the matter seriously and prepared a trap operation. A 13-member special team was constituted under the supervision of Inspector Ravindra Singh. As part of the operation, the complainant was provided chemically treated currency notes to verify the demand and acceptance of bribe.
On Monday, as per the planned operation, the team raided the ARM office in Rajapur. The moment Arvind Kumar Mishra accepted the ₹8,000 from the complainant, the Anti-Corruption team, which was already positioned nearby, caught him red-handed. The sudden raid triggered chaos in the office, with staff members reportedly shocked and disturbed by the action.
Legal Action and Departmental Impact
The arrested ARM has been identified as a native of Parasara village in the Phoolpur area of Varanasi district. At present, he was residing in a government accommodation near the Roadways guest house in Rajapur. Following his arrest, he was taken into custody for interrogation, and a detailed investigation has been initiated.
Authorities have also registered a formal case against him at the Cantt police station under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Officials stated that further investigation is underway to determine whether this incident is part of a larger network or a recurring pattern of corruption within the department.
The incident has raised serious concerns about transparency and functioning within the Roadways department. Employees are reportedly discussing how routine official tasks were allegedly being linked to illegal monetary demands.
Administratively, the action is being viewed as a strong message against corruption in government departments. Officials reiterated that any form of bribery or misconduct will not be tolerated and strict action will continue against those found involved.
At present, interrogation of the arrested officer is ongoing, and the Anti-Corruption team is also examining whether other employees or officials were involved in similar practices. The case has once again sparked a broader debate on entrenched corruption within public service institutions.
