An government higher secondary school accountant in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh was arrested by Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths today for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 23,000 from a complainant in lieu of passing bills and vouchers. “Ramesh Prasad Kashyap (55), the accountant of the government higher secondary school at Khodri village of the district was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 23,000 from Mahendra Singh Paikra, the superintendent of a government hostel for boys,” ACB officials said. Earlier, the superintendent in his complaint had stated that Rs 1.17 lakh was sanctioned for several developmental and maintenance works in the hostel, in which Rs 96,000 had been spent till February 28. Paikra accused Kashyap of demanding Rs 26,000 as a bribe, to clear bills and vouchers related to expenses incurred during several works at the hostel. After he complained to the ACB, a trap was laid and the deal was settled at Rs 23,000. Kashyap asked the superintendent to come at Railway station. As per the plan, Paikra went to the railway station and gave him the amount. After taking the amount, Kashyap kept it in his bag, when Paikra signaled the ACB sleuths, who caught the accountant red handed. He was booked under various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act, they added. PTI
