Vigilance bureau officers on Monday raided the Patna residence of Dhrub Prasad, the principal of Muzaffarpur Institute of Technology (MIT). He is also the director of science and technology department.

Prasad and one of his accomplices, Satish Ranjan Srivastava, were arrested red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh from Santlal Yadav, the administrator of Patna Sahib Group of Colleges.

Prasad, who complained of uneasiness after the arrest, has been admitted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).

According to initial reports, Prasad had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 5 lakh from Yadav for giving a clearance to the Patna Sahib Group of Colleges so that the institute could be run in the afternoon as well.

Being the director of science and technology department, Prasad is authorised to issue no-objection certificates to technical institutions on such matters.

“Dhrub Prasad was arrested from his official residence on the MIT campus in Muzaffarpur. Yadav had come up with a complaint against Prasad a fortnight ago and the bureau had decided to catch him red-handed.

“Balwant Singh Chauhan and Sardar Charanjeet Singh, both administrators of the Patna Sahib Group of Colleges had visited Prasad’s residence late on Sunday night.

“After the money was handed over, Prasad and Srivastava began counting it. That is when our officials entered the residence and arrested the duo red-handed,” P.K. Thakur, director-general (vigilance) said on Monday.

The senior officer said Prasad was brought to Patna on Sunday night.

“On Monday morning, he complained of uneasiness in the chest and was taken to the PMCH. He is still in hospital. He is at present under observation for 48 hours.

“Doctors confirmed that he had a bypass surgery two years ago. Prasad would be produced in court after 48 hours. The court has been informed,” Thakur said.

He added that Prasad’s accomplice Srivastava has been forwarded to jail after he was produced in court on Monday.

“Prasad has a house on Boring Road near AN College. The raid at the Boring Road residence began on Monday afternoon. (The raid was still on at the time of filing of the report). Once the raid is over, an inventory would be made. The bureau would be in a better position to comment on the things recovered from his house,” Thakur said.

Sources said the vigilance officers recovered important documents from the house.

“Prasad’s family stays at Nutan Samarkunj Apartments behind AN College. The flat number is 402. Around Rs 5 lakh in cash has been recovered from his house.

“The officers have also recovered many documents and bank account details from his Patna house,” a vigilance officer said.

The officer further said that the documents needed to be checked properly to know of other assets he might possess.

“Only after a thorough scan would we be able to conclude anything concrete. Quite a few bank account details have been recovered. “There could be other residences of Prasad. Things would be clearer soon,” the officer said.