Patiala: The Punjab vigilance bureau on Wednesday claimed to have apprehended an assistant sub-inspector, posted at the counter intelligence office in Patiala district, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000.The arrested ASI has been identified as Harpal Singh. His arrest comes as part of the ongoing drive against corruption in Punjab.An official spokesperson of the vigilance bureau said the accused was arrested following a complaint lodged by a resident of tehsil Naba in Patiala district.The spokesperson said an enquiry was conducted regarding the involvement of the complainant’s relative in the “Khalistani movement” in the year 2023. The accused ASI called the complainant to the counter intelligence office and told him that he was also involved in the movement with his relative, said the spokesperson.The complainant alleged that the accused ASI demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 in lieu of a favourable enquiry report, which the complainant required to visit abroad.Unwilling to pay any illegal gratification, the complainant approached the Vigilance Bureau range Patiala. After a preliminary enquiry, a vigilance bureau team laid a trap and arrested the ASI red-handed while accepting the bribe money of Rs 20,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against the accused at the Vigilance Bureau police station, Patiala, and further investigation in the case is in progress, the spokesperson added.MSID:: 129804921 413 |
