The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing drive against corruption in the state, has apprehended Block Development Panchayat Officer Sukhjeet Kaur posted at Block Maloud, district Ludhiana, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs. 15,000/-. 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 village Sohian district Ludhiana.
Complainant alleged that the work of interlock tiles in the street and drainage of village Sohian was done by passing a resolution. In this regard, complainant went to meet the BDPO of Block Maloud, Sukhjeet Kaur, but instead of passing the bill, she demanded a bribe of Rs. 15,000/-, which he was forced to give Rs. 5,000/- as bribe on the spot and the BDPO also told him that Rs. 10,000/- is pending.
Furthermore, he informed that a letter was issued to BDPO Maloud by Executive Engineer Ludhiana that the playground in village Sohian was to be inaugurated, therefore, the Gram Panchayat was instructed to level the ground at its own level within 02 days. In this regard, the Gram Panchayat Sohian levelled the playground at its own expense.
He said that the complainant met accused Sukhjeet Kaur BDPO and talked about getting the bill passed for leveling the playground and planting grass/shrubs in the ground, then accused BDPO demanded the bribe money of Rs. 15,000/- for passing the bill for leveling the ground and planting grass/shrubs in the ground. In this context, complainant had recorded the entire conversation of demanding bribe.
Unwilling to pay illegal gratification, complainant approached the VB Unit Ludhiana. After a preliminary enquiry on his complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the accused BDPO was arrested red handed while accepting bribe money of Rs 15,000/- from the complainant in presence of two official witnesses.
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.