The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing drive against corruption in the state, has apprehended Sanjeev Sabharwa, Reader to Naib Tehsildar, Samana district Patiala, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs. 6,000/-. 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 Dhainthal tehsil Samana district Patiala.
He stated that the complainant’s brother had taken a loan of ₹11 lakh from Jana Small Finance Bank, Patiala, to send his son abroad, mortgaging his house as security. The loan was being repaid in monthly installments of ₹14,000. However, due to non-payment of these installments for the past two years, proceedings under Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act, 2002, were initiated and are currently underway in the office of the Naib Tehsildar-cum-Executive Magistrate, Samana. Consequently, orders have been issued to take physical possession of the mortgaged property.
He further said that when the complainant visited the Naib Tehsildar’s office in Samana, he met accused Reader, Sanjeev Sabharwal. The accused Reader demanded a bribe of ₹25,000 to delay the case proceedings. Following negotiation, the accused agreed to accept an initial installment of ₹6,000, directing the complainant to pay the remaining balance after 06.07.2026.
Unwilling to pay the illegal gratification, complainant approached the VB range Patiala. Acting on his complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the accused Reader was arrested red handed while accepting bribe money of Rs 6,000/- 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 Patiala and further investigation into this case is under progress.