Vigilance team nabs two taking Rs 1 lakh bribe

Lucknow: The UP vigilance establishment’s Jhansi team on Wednesday arrested two officials of the regional ayurvedic and unani department in Lalitpur allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from a complainant seeking a clinic licence.The accused have been identified as Arjun Lal Ahirwar and Ramakrishna Gupta. Both were caught red-handed during an operation conducted by the vigilance establishment.Vigilance officials said the complainant had approached the regional ayurvedic and unani office to obtain a licence to open a clinic. An application for the licence was submitted on Apr 16.Acting regional ayurvedic and unani medical officer Arjun Lal Ahirwar allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh for issuing the licence. Officials said the officer allegedly instructed the complainant to pay Rs 1 lakh as the first instalment and the remaining Rs 50,000 after the licence was issued. The complainant was allegedly told to hand over the money in the presence of junior assistant Ramakrishna Gupta.The complainant approached the UP vigilance establishment in Jhansi and lodged a complaint. He said he wanted the officials to be caught red-handed.On Wednesday, the team arrested both accused while they were allegedly accepting Rs 1 lakh from the complainant.