VIGILANCE BUREAU NABS PLANNING OFFICER AMONG THREE PUDA OFFICIALS FOR ACCEPTING BRIBE

Accused officials already took Rs 30,000 for not razing house and shop

Chandigarh; July 3, 2023: (Kartika Singh/Arth Parkash):: 

          The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, on Monday has nabbed Planning Officer Manveer Singh posted at Office of District Town Planner, Fatehgarh Sahib for demanding and accepting bribe from a resident of Amloh. Two other arrested accused officials have been identified as a Junior Engineer (JE) Dhikshu Saini and Driver Tejinder Singh.

          Revealing the details here today, an official spokesperson of the VB said that the accused officials have been arrested on the complaint of Balram Kumawat resident of Amloh.

          He said that the complainant has approached the Police Station VB, Patiala Range and lodged a complaint that these PUDA officials have demanded a bribe of Rs 1,50,000 for not demolishing his house and shop, which according to them was constructed illegally. They have finalized a deal in Rs. 40,000 and out of the amount they already took a bribe of Rs 30,000.

          The spokesperson informed that after preliminary investigation of this complaint, a team of VB, Patiala Range laid a trap and arrested the accused driver red handed while accepting remaining bribe of Rs 10,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. Subsequently, the Planning Officer and JE were also arrested in this case.

          In this regard, a case under various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused Planning Officer, JE and Driver at Police Station VB, Patiala Range. Further investigations in this case are under progress.