Acting tough against the corruption, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) chairman-cum-managing director Baldev Singh Sran has suspended an Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) and Junior Engineer (JE) for taking bribe from a consumer.

 Acting within 24 hours of the matter coming to his notice, Sran ordered the immediate suspension of both officials for taking bribe from a consumer while fixing their headquarters at the disposal of Chief Engineer (Central Ludhiana).

The action came after Sran ordered an inquiry into the authenticity of a video clip that went viral on the social media recently wherein Nagoke (sub-division under Beas Division, Border Zone) AEE Rajinder Kumar was seen receiving Rs 10,000 as bribe from certain consumer for release of single phase connection.

After the matter came to his notice, Sran immediately ordered the Chief Engineer (EA and Enforcement) to depute a Superintending Engineer (Enforcement) and two Executive Engineers (XENs) for the investigation of the matter.

The complaint was investigated by a team of Enforcement Wing under the supervision of SE (EA and Enforcement), Jalandhar. The enforcement team traced and contacted the consumer Bhachittar Singh, who is the resident of Nagoke Mohr, and he confirmed the incident.

After preliminary enquiry, the investigation team submitted its report in which it was  established that AEE Rajinder Kumar had accepted Rs 10,000 and JE Hari Singh concerned had accepted Rs 5,000 for release of connection, following which the CMD ordered their suspension.

He added that a detailed and in-depth investigation of the complaint will be made in due course of time, and “if any senior officer is found involved, he would not be spared”.

Earlier in December 2018, a DO letter was written by CMD to all officers to maintain high standards of integrity and that senior officers would also be accountable for misdemeanour by their juniors if they fail to check and report such a practice.

“PSPCL will not tolerate any kind of corruption at any level,” said Sran.

He added that consumers and others facing any unscrupulous demands or practices can directly contact him and the matter would be thoroughly got investigated to punish the unscrupulous elements.