BEO, BRP held for taking Rs 20,000 bribe for school renewal in Haridwar

Dehradun/Haridwar: The Vigilance Department on Thursday arrested a block education officer (BEO) and a block resource person (BRP) of Bahadrabad block in Haridwar for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 for issuing a school renewal certificate. The arrests were made during a raid at the BEO's office, officials said.Those arrested are BEO Brij Pal Singh Rathore and BRP Mukesh. Vigilance officials said Rathore was caught while accepting the money when a trap was laid following a complaint.Officials said the bribe was sought in connection with the renewal of recognition of Police Modern School, run by the 40th Battalion of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) in Haridwar. The school required a provisional renewal certificate to continue operations. The vigilance team also arrested Mukesh, headmaster of a govt school in Mangolpur, Shyampur, who also serves as a BRP in the same block. Mukesh acted as an intermediary and had demanded the bribe. Both accused were brought to Dehradun and will be produced before the vigilance court on Friday.Reacting to the development, Haridwar chief education officer Ashutosh Bhandari said the responsibility of school recognition renewal rests with the Block Education Officer. "The BEO conducts field inspections and submits reports. We have not yet received official information about the arrest. Once the details are received, a letter will be sent to higher authorities for appropriate action," he said. (With inputs from Shah Nawaz)