In a major crackdown, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted a raid at the Regional Passport Office in Jalandhar on Friday. Following nearly seven hours of interrogation, the CBI team from Chandigarh apprehended Regional Passport Officer Anoop Singh along with Assistant Passport Officers — Hari Om and Sanjay Srivastava.

The raid was prompted by allegations of corruption, with authorities suspecting the involvement of officials in issuing passports expediently in exchange for bribes.

During the operation, the CBI seized cash amounting to Rs 25 lakhs and confiscated three bags containing documents. The arrested officials have been taken to Chandigarh for further interrogation regarding the number of passports issued in exchange for bribes.

The raid was conducted early in the morning at the passport office premises, with simultaneous searches conducted at Anoop Singh’s residence. While Hari Om and Sanjay Srivastava were apprehended at the office, Anoop Singh was arrested from his residence. It has been alleged that the officials were violating the guidelines set by the Indian Government for passport issuance, thereby engaging in corrupt practices.

Furthermore, it has come to light that a complaint was filed by an individual recently, alleging that Hari Om demanded a bribe of approximately Rs 25,000 for issuing a passport. Acting on this complaint, the CBI conducted the raid, during which the serial numbers of the notes used for bribery were recorded. The complainant was instructed to hand over the specified amount to the implicated officer, following which the arrest was made.

The complainant had sought passports for his granddaughter and grandson, and upon reaching the office to pay the bribe, the CBI officials intervened and apprehended the accused officer. Subsequent interrogation revealed the involvement of Anoop Singh and Sanjay Srivastava in the corruption racket.

The incident has raised concerns about the functioning of regional passport offices and the prevalence of corruption in the system. Rajya Sabha MP and renowned environmentalist Sant Balwinder Singh Seechewal had previously raised complaints regarding the functioning of the passport office, urging the Union Ministry of External Affairs to investigate the matter.