Suman Kumari, Legal Correspondent, Patna, 18th September 2025: A vigilance court in Patna on Wednesday convicted Shambhu Kumar, then Junior Engineer of the Electricity Supply Sub-Division, Rural Gaya, in a decade-old bribery case. The verdict was delivered by Md. Rustam, Special Judge (Vigilance), Patna in Special Case No. 44/2013, arising out of Vigilance P.S. Case No. 37/2013.
Kumar has been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for one year along with a fine of ₹25,000 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. He was also awarded one year’s rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹25,000 under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(d) of the Act. In case of default in payment of fine, he will undergo an additional one month’s simple imprisonment. Both sentences will run concurrently.
According to the prosecution, the accused was arrested on July 16, 2013 from his rented house at South Church Road, Gaya, while accepting a bribe of ₹50,000 from complainant Shashi Shekhar Singh. The money was allegedly taken in exchange for providing an electric connection to a transformer assembling factory owned by Singh’s wife, Sangeeta Devi.
During the trial, the prosecution examined 10 witnesses to establish the charges. The case was prosecuted by Bijay Bhanu, Special Public Prosecutor, Vigilance (Trap Cases), Patna.
The conviction highlights the Vigilance Department’s continued crackdown on corruption within government departments, particularly in cases involving bribery for essential public services.
