(MOREPIC1) Face2News/Nakodar/Chandigarh
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing drive against the corruption in the state, has apprehended Kuldeep Singh, Forest Guard, and Darshan Singh Mate, Daily Wage Worker red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs. 20000/-. Both accused were posted at Forest Range office at Nakodar, District Jalandhar.
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 Sanghowal, sub tehsil Mehatpur, district Jalandhar.
He said that the complainant works as a labourer and when the complainant's domestic gas cylinder got exhausted, he was collecting small pieces of wood from trees along the Mehatpur-Jagraon road for household use. At that time, both accused Kuldeep Singh, Forest Guard, and Darshan Singh Mate Daily Wage Worker arrived at the spot, informed the complainant that a case of theft of government wood would be registered against him and took his motorcycle in their custody.
The spokesperson added that complainant contacted Darshan Singh Mate, and then he told him that Kuldeep Singh Forest Guard, was demanding Rs. 20000/- for releasing the complainant's motorcycle. Despite repeated requests by the complainant, accused Darshan Singh remained adamant about the bribe amount which was demanded for Kuldeep Singh, Forest Guard. The complainant recorded the conversation regarding the demand of illegal gratification of Rs. 20000/-.
After a preliminary enquiry of his complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the both accused were arrested red handed while accepting bribe money of Rs 20000/- 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 Jalandhar and further investigation into this case is under progress.