Suman Kumari, Legal Correspondent, Patna, 15th December 2025: A special vigilance court in Patna on Monday convicted Suresh Prasad Singh, Executive Engineer, and Shashi Bhushan Kumar, Cashier, both posted in the Patna West Road Division of the Road Construction Department, in a major bribery case linked to a ₹40-crore road construction project.
The verdict was delivered by Special Vigilance Judge Md. Rustam in Special Case No. 23/19, arising out of Vigilance Police Station Case No. 23/19 (State vs. Suresh Prasad Singh and Others). The court held both accused guilty under Sections 7(a) and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018).
Sentences Awarded
The court sentenced Suresh Prasad Singh to four years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 7(a) of the Act and imposed a fine of ₹5 lakh. In case of default in payment, he will undergo one month of simple imprisonment.
Co-accused Shashi Bhushan Kumar was sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹2 lakh under Section 7, and three years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine of ₹1 lakh under Section 12. Failure to pay the fines will result in an additional one month of simple imprisonment.
How the Bribe Demand Was Made
Kishore Kumar Singh, Special Public Prosecutor and Incharge, Vigilance (Trap Cases), Patna, said that the case originated from a complaint filed by Akhilesh Kumar Jaiswal, whose firm Saaj Infracon Project India Limited was awarded a ₹40-crore road construction project—from Gonwa Mod to Amhara—by the Bihar Road Construction Department on February 1, 2019.
The complainant alleged that despite repeated visits, the executive engineer delayed signing the agreement, which was finally executed on March 28, 2019, after intervention by senior officials. After completing about seven kilometres of work, the complainant approached the executive engineer for a secured advance, at which point the accused allegedly demanded a bribe of 1% of the project value (₹40 lakh).
Following negotiations, the demand was reduced to 0.8% (₹32 lakh), with the assurance that the secured advance would be released upon payment. Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the Vigilance Department on June 3, 2019.
Trap and Arrest
After verification by Vigilance Sub-Inspector Sanjiv Kumar on June 7, 2019, a trap was laid. During verification, the executive engineer reiterated the bribe demand and directed the complainant to hand over the money to the cashier.
On June 8, 2019, at around 10:05 am, at the executive engineer’s residence in Patel Nagar, Patna, the accused demanded the bribe in the presence of vigilance officials. While counting the money, two bundles of currency notes were handed to the cashier. At that moment, the vigilance trap team raided the premises and caught both accused red-handed with ₹14 lakh in bribe money.
Recovery of Huge Assets
During the search of the executive engineer’s residence, the vigilance team recovered ₹2.36 crore in cash, along with bank passbooks, cheque books, life insurance documents, and property investment records. Subsequently, Vigilance PS Case No. 26/19 relating to disproportionate assets was registered on June 21, 2019.
The investigation was conducted by Imtiaz Ahmad, Deputy Superintendent of Police, and the prosecution examined 13 witnesses during the trial.
Prosecutor Highlights Record Convictions
Kishore Kumar Singh, Special Public Prosecutor and Incharge, Vigilance (Trap Cases), Patna, stated that in 2025 alone, he secured convictions in 17 vigilance trap cases. Under his leadership, 27 cases resulted in convictions—surpassing conviction records of the past 25 years in vigilance trap cases in Patna.
