Patna, Aug 10 (IANS) A total of 462 corrupt officials were arrested while taking bribes in Bihar in the last five and a half years, an official said Wednesday.


“It shows the rampant corruption in government offices,” the official from the state vigilance department told IANS.

He said many of the arrests took place after the state government launched a drive to weed out corruption.

According to official sources, 1,375 cases of corruption and financial irregularities by officials were pending with the vigilance department.

Soon after assuming office last year, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his cabinet colleagues declared their assets. The details are posted on the government's official website.

Early this year, Bihar became the first state to make it mandatory for government employees to declare their assets and make it public.

Bihar is also working to confiscate the properties of corrupt officials.