The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its relentless campaign against corruption in the state, has arrested Numberdar Pankaj Kumar of Municipal Corporation Zone A, Ludhiana, for demanding a bribe of Rs 5,000 per month from a Safai Sewak. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the state VB said that the complainant, Ashok Kumar, a resident of village Mattewara, Ludhiana, filed a complaint against the said accused Pankaj Kumar Numberdar on the Chief Minister's Anti-corruption Action Line.
He alleged that he works as a Safai Sewak in the Prem Vihar area of Ludhiana city, covering morning and evening shifts from 6 AM to 11 AM and from 2 PM to 5 PM. He stated that despite instructions specifying work within an 800-meter radius, he was assigned a 2400-meter area.
The complainant further alleged in the complaint that the accused Numberdar has demanded a monthly bribe of Rs 5,000 to exempt him fully from the duties, which the complainant refused. Moreover, Pankaj Kumar demanded Rs 2,000 per month for exemption from duties in the afternoon shift.
The spokesperson added that to lodge an online complaint with evidence, the complainant recorded a conversation with Pankaj Kumar, during which Pankaj Kumar agreed to accept Rs 1,000 instead of Rs 2,000 per month to exempt him from duties in the afternoon shift. Following verification by the DSP VB unit in Ludhiana, the allegations were confirmed.
He further added that in this regard a FIR No. 30 dated 7.12.23 under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at the VB police station, Ludhiana range, after finding the accused guilty of demanding a Rs 2,000 monthly bribe from the complainant. The accused, Numberdar Pankaj Kumar, has been arrested and would be produced in court tomorrow. Further investigation in this case was under progress, he added.