Vigilance Bureau, Punjab arrests a Head Constable for Accepting Rs 25,000 in Bribe

Chandigarh: Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, has registered a corruption case against Manpreet Sing, Head Constable, posted at the  Gharuan PS , in SAS Nagar district for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25000. Disclosing this here on Thursday, an official spokesperson of the state VB said this case has been registered against the aforementioned police official, now posted at police station Balongi,  based on an online complaint lodged by Baljinder Kaur on the Chief Minister’s Anti-Corruption Action Line portal.

It is  further told the complainant has informed in her complaint that she had got registered a police case in police station Gharuan and the said police personnel had demanded Rs 50,000 to expedite the investigation of this case and had already taken Rs 25,000.

  The VB spokesperson informed that during the investigation of this complaint, it was proved that the said police official had taken the bribe of Rs 25,000 from complainant for the aforementioned motive. Subsequently, a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused at the VB police station, flying squad-1, Punjab at SAS Nagar.  The accused head constable has been arrested and would be produced in the competent court today.

In another case of corruption, Punjab Vigilance Bureau  on Thursday has arrested an absconding accused Balbir Kumar Virdi, Joint Director GST, Punjab Excise Department, now posted as Deputy Commissioner State Taxes, at Patiala. The Jalandhar court has granted two days police remand of the accused for further investigation.

A spokesperson of VB said  that earlier Balbir Kumar Virdi and other officers/employees of the state Excise Department, in collusion with some owners of transports and industries, were involved in evasion of taxes. A case FIR 09, dated August 21, 2020 under sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of IPC and 7, 7-A of Prevention of Corruption Act was registered at VB police station, Flying Squad-1, SAS Nagar Mohali against Balbir Kumar Virdi and others. Meanwhile, a vigilance enquiry regarding disproportionate assets was also initiated against Balbir Kumar Virdi.

Since registration of the above said FIR, he was evading his arrest. It is informed that on dated May 03, the High Court had dismissed the  anticipatory bail application filed by Balbir Kumar Virdi.  The accused  Virdi ultimately surrendered before the local court on the directions of high court.