The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has nabbed Manjinder Singh, Surveyor, in Punjab Forest & Wildlife Protection department, SAS Nagar red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs. 2 lakh.
During a search of his house in village Singhpura, SAS Nagar district, the VB said it has recovered Rs. 1,04,200. Meanwhile, the Judicial Magistrate has remanded the accused for four days police remand to further investigate any involvement of other persons/officials in the matter.
A spokesperson of the state VB said the accused official has been arrested on the complaint of Dinkar Singh of Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda district. The complainant approached the VB and informed that he has applied for getting No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the installation of a new petrol pump on Rama Mandi-Talwandi Sabo road and alleged that the accused official has demanded Rs 2 lakh for the same. He further informed that the accused has already taken Rs 3 lakh for this purpose.
The spokesperson added that after a preliminary investigation of the complaint, a VB team laid a trap and the accused official was arrested in Phase 7 Market, SAS Nagar while accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. A case under the prevention of corruption act has been registered, he added.
He informed that during the search of the house of the accused in village Singhpura, Mohali district, the VB team recovered Rs. 104,200. In this case, further investigation was under progress and the role of more persons and officials would be probed in this case.