CORRUPTION ALLEGED AGAINST THE DEO

CORRUPTION ALLEGED AGAINST THE DEO

15-JUNE-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BUXAR---------------------------A complaint regarding alleged financial irregularities and corruption within the district's Education Department has been submitted to the Vigilance Department. Arvind Kumar Singh, a resident of Buxar, has petitioned the Additional Director General of Police (Special Vigilance Unit, Bihar, Patna), demanding an investigation and action against Buxar District Education Officer (DEO) Sandeep Ranjan.

Complainant Arvind Kumar Singh claims that alleged WhatsApp chats obtained via social media have brought to light large-scale financial irregularities and the practice of accepting "facilitation fees" (bribes) within the Education Department. The application alleges that money changed hands in connection with payments made to a housekeeping agency (RS Enterprises). The complainant has demanded an investigation into the relevant WhatsApp chats and bank transactions.

The application further alleges that, in collusion with the District Education Officer and other departmental officials, an irregular payment of approximately ₹70 lakh was made to the agency in question. The complainant has demanded an independent inquiry into these allegations as well as an investigation into the assets of the officials involved.

Arvind Kumar Singh stated that he had previously lodged complaints regarding this matter with the Chief Minister and senior Education Department officials, but no action has been taken so far. He has requested the Special Vigilance Unit, the Vigilance Department, and the Economic Offences Unit to conduct an impartial investigation into the case.

Copies of the complaint have also been sent to the Chief Minister, the Additional Chief Secretary (Education Department), the Director of Primary Education, the Regional Deputy Director of Education (Patna Division), the District Magistrate of Buxar, the Additional Chief Secretary (Vigilance Department), and the Economic Offences Unit.

However, as of the time of writing this report, no official response regarding these allegations has been received from District Education Officer Sandeep Ranjan or the other named officials. An attempt was also made to seek DEO Sandeep Ranjan's version regarding the allegations by calling his official number (8544411179); however, as the call went unanswered, his side of the story could not be obtained. It is worth noting that the serious allegations leveled against the Education Department have not been independently verified; the veracity of the matter will only become clear after an investigation. Meanwhile, with the newly appointed Education Minister of Bihar, Mithilesh Tiwari, scheduled to visit Buxar district on June 18, all eyes are on his potential reaction to the serious corruption allegations facing the district education department.