The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), in line with the zero tolerance policy adopted by the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government, has apprehended Tejinderpal Singh, Forest Guard posted at Forest Department Office district Nawanshahr, Shamsher Singh Daily Wage Worker posted at Forest Department Office, district Nawanshahr and Amarjit Thind, tea seller a resident of district SBS Nagar for accepting a bribe Rs. 110000/-.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the arrest has been made following a complaint lodged on the Chief Minister’s Anti Corruption Action Line portal. During the verification of this complaint, it came to light that Block Officer Chirag Lakhotra, along with Tajinder Singh Forest Guard, and Shamsher Singh, Daily Wage Worker, impounded three vehicles (Tipper, JCB, and Motorcycle) of the complainant Mohammad Salim involved in illegal mining on Forest Department land and brought his vehicles to the Forest Department Office, Nawanshahr.
He further said that Block Officer Chirag Lakhotra, through Shamsher Singh Daily Wage Worker, threatened the complainant Mohammad Salim with the imposition of a heavy fine of Rs. 6,00,000/-, and demanded a bribe of Rs. 1,50,000/- in lieu of not taking action against the complainant and will also release his impounded vehicles. Out of the above said amount demanded, Rs. 70,000/- was received (Rs. 45,000/- by cash mode and Rs. 25,000/- by transferring via UPI) by Amarjit Thind (tea seller), an associate of Shamsher Singh.
Moreover, he added that the complainant again transferred Rs. 40,000/- to the said UPI account. Thus, a total amount of Rs. 1,10,000/- had been given to Amarjit Thind, tea seller, an associate of Shamsher Singh. Thereafter, Shamsher Singh asked the complainant to pay the remaining Rs. 40,000/-, which were pending to receive yet.
During the probe, the involvement of above mentioned employees came to light thereby VB Unit SBS Nagar has arrested these accused. The Vigilance Bureau has constituted teams to conduct raids at the residence and other locations of Chirag Lakhotra, Block Officer, Forest Department Office Nawanshahr, to arrest him soon.
In this regard, if any evidence emerges against any other officer or employee of the Forest Department, strict action will also be taken against that official. In this regard, a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against these accused at VB Police Station Jalandhar range. Further investigation into this case is underway, he added.