A father’s desperate plea for justice has triggered a major crackdown on corruption in Punjab’s police force. After repeated threats and demands for money from police officials, the family of a 17-year-old boy, caught in a minor cyber case, reached out directly to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and the state responded with swift, decisive action, leading to the arrest of an SHO and three other cops.
The boy had inadvertently clicked on adult content, a non-serious incident that should have been handled with sensitivity and discretion. Instead, officials at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Fazilka turned it into an opportunity for extortion. They allegedly threatened the family with a formal FIR under cybercrime charges unless they paid a Rs one lakh bribe. What followed was weeks of trauma, fear, and pressure for the family, until they gathered courage and knocked on the CM’s door.
Moved by the gravity of the complaint and the evidence provided, CM Mann ordered an immediate investigation. Within hours, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau caught the SHO, a munshi, and two constables red-handed accepting the bribe.
The arrested officials allegedly exploited a non-serious cyber case involving a 17-year-old. Instead of resolving the matter through legal protocol, the officers used intimidation tactics, threatening to register a criminal case against the minor unless the family paid a hefty bribe.
Sharing the details, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday said that the family, unable to bear the pressure, finally approached the Chief Minister with evidence. “This case proves that our government stands firmly with the common citizen. Anyone — from an MLA to an SHO — caught indulging in corruption will be punished,” said Cheema.
He confirmed that the officials were caught red-handed accepting the bribe and were immediately taken into custody. Legal proceedings have been initiated against them. “Corruption, at any level, will not be tolerated. The arrest of a police officer in uniform is proof of our unwavering commitment,” Cheema added.
Cheema said: “The fight against corruption is not a slogan for us — it’s a mission. We are determined to make Punjab a model state where justice and accountability prevail.”