New Delhi, 02 June (H.S.): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Rohit Kumar Singh, Branch Manager of the State Bank of India (SBI) branch at Dumaria in Jharkhand’s Godda district, while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 77,000. The action has created a stir within the banking sector.

According to information provided by the CBI, the agency registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the matter on May 31. The complainant alleged that the branch manager had demanded a bribe of Rs 60,000 for processing and releasing an insurance claim of Rs 2 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana related to the complainant’s deceased mother.

The complaint further stated that after the deceased mother's bank account had been transferred to the complainant’s name, the accused manager demanded an additional Rs 17,000 to remove a restriction placed on the withdrawal of Rs 35,000 from the account. Thus, a total bribe amount of Rs 77,000 was allegedly demanded.

After receiving the complaint, the CBI conducted a verification exercise and, upon confirming the allegations, devised a trap operation. Acting according to the planned strategy, the agency caught the accused branch manager red-handed while accepting the bribe amount of Rs 77,000 from the complainant.

CBI officials immediately arrested the accused at the spot and initiated proceedings under the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Following the arrest, the agency also launched search operations at the accused’s office and residential premises to gather additional evidence and documents related to the case.

According to the investigating agency, documents and other materials recovered during the searches are being examined. Investigators are also attempting to determine whether the accused was part of a larger corruption network or whether similar complaints had previously been made against him.

The CBI stated that the arrested branch manager, Rohit Kumar Singh, will be produced before the competent court in Dhanbad on Tuesday. The agency may seek his custodial remand for further investigation. The probe remains ongoing, and further action will be taken based on the findings that emerge during the course of the investigation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar