In its ongoing crackdown on corruption, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) today arrested Nirmal Singh, Junior Engineer of PSPCL posted at Dasuya, district Hoshiarpur and Satnam Singh, government approved Contractor caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 15000/- from the complainant. Disclosing this a spokesperson of VB said that the complainant, a taxi driver and resident of tehsil Dausya, district Hoshiarpur who owns a 13-marla plot in the village through which three-phase wires passed to the motor of one Kanta S/o Desa Singh of his village. Complainant submitted an application to PSPCL sub division Dasuya requesting that these wires be shifted to one side of his plot.
Furthermore he said that JE Nirmal Singh conducted a site survey and demanded Rs. 5,000/- for preparing the estimate from the complainant. After taking this bribe amount, he processed the estimate and further demanded Rs. 5,000/-. Thereafter, JE Nirmal Singh and contractor Satnam Singh again visited the complainant's house. During this visit, JE Nirmal Singh stated that the contractor was demanding Rs. 12,000/- for shifting the wires.
After negotiations, the complainant agreed to pay Rs. 10,000/-. JE Nirmal Singh also asked when the complainant would pay the remaining Rs. 5,000/- to him. The complainant responded that the amount would be paid on the same day the work was executed. Contractor Satnam Singh shifted the wires as per the approved map, but the complainant did not pay the bribe on that day, he added.
Moreover, he said that despite the government fee already having been deposited, both accused repeatedly called the complainant and continued demanding illegal gratification. The complainant recorded the audio conversations on his mobile phone and subsequently approached the Vigilance Bureau.
Acting on complainant information, the Vigilance Bureau got a recorded complainant statement at VB Unit Jalandhar. After verifying the allegations, VB laid a trap and apprehended both accused red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 15000/- from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.
A case under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused at the Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Range Jalandhar. The accused will be produced in competent court tomorrow, and further investigation is underway.