The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing drive against the corruption in the state, has apprehended Head Constable Ramesh Kumar, posted at CIA Khanna, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs. 5 lakh 20 thousand.
Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above-mentioned accused has been arrested based on a complaint lodged by a resident of Master Colony Khanna, district Ludhiana.He said that the complainant is engaged in the business of property dealing and complained that accused Head Constable Ramesh Kumar met him and alleged that the complainant was involved in gambling activities.
Accused told the complainant that Narpinderpal Singh, CIA In-charge Khanna, had called him. The complainant stated that he was not involved in any such work, he was forced to contact the CIA In-charge.The spokesperson added that the complainant went to the office and met CIA In-charge Narpinderpal Singh, who accused the complainant of engaging in betting and illegal lottery activities and demanded Rs. 5 lakh through Head Constable Ramesh Kumar. He also threatened to arrest the complainant after registering a false case against him.
Furthermore, he said that the complainant, under compulsion, arranged Rs. 2,20,000/- and attempted to give it to Ramesh Kumar at the house of his acquaintance Dinesh Kumar at Khanna, but the money was returned with the statement that the entire amount of Rs. 5 lakh was required.
Thereafter, during a conversation with Head Constable Ramesh Kumar, the bribe amount was increased from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh 20 thousand. The complainant did not want to pay the bribe, due to which he contacted the Vigilance Bureau Unit, Hoshiarpur. Subsequently, a case was registered against Narpinderpal Singh, In-charge CIA Khanna and Head Constable Ramesh Kumar.
After a preliminary enquiry on his complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the accused was arrested red handed while accepting bribe money of Rs 5.2 lakh from the complainant in presence of two official witnesses.The Vigilance Bureau has formed various teams and is conducting raids at the residence and other locations of Narpinderpal Singh, In-charge CIA Khanna, to arrest him soon.
In this regard, a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the accused at VB police station Ludhiana and further investigation into this case is under progress.