BIRGUNJ: Law enforcement officers on Thursday arrested a department head and a section officer from Birgunj Metropolitan City Mayor Vijay Kumar Sarawagi’s office with graft money.

Officials from Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) nabbed Education Department Head Manjur Alam and Section Officer Sashi Bhusan Shah red handed with bribe money of Rs 100,000.

The accused duo had demanded the money to give approval letter for running classes up to grade five to Purkan International Academy based in ward 14 in the metropolis.

According to School Operator Ekbal Haidar, the officials were reluctant to give approval without bribe, despite his repeated request and application for the past couple of months.

Haidar not only agreed to give the bribe money but also informed the CIAA leading to the duo’s arrest.

A team of CIAA officials led by Krishna Subedi arrested the duo and took them to CIAA Hetauda Office for further investigation.