REGISTERS 16 FIRs AND CONFISCATES RS 40900 FROM AGENTS
Face2News/Ludhiana/Jalandhar/Mohali .Chandigarh
In a sweeping crackdown on corruption, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) conducted surprise inspections at Regional Transport Authority (RTA) offices and driving test centers across the state, leading to the arrest of 24 individuals allegedly involved in bribery and malpractice. A total of 16 FIRs have been registered and authorities confiscated Rs 40,900 from middlemen who were extorting money from citizens seeking driving licenses, driving tests and other services.
(MOREPIC1)Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the raids were carried out by VB Ranges, including the Flying Squad and the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), following numerous complaints received through the Chief Minister’s Anti-Corruption Action Line. The operation targeted RTA officials and agents who were acting as intermediaries, charging illegal fees to expedite license processing or manipulate driving test results.
He stated that these operations are part of the state’s ongoing efforts to eliminate corruption in public offices. “We are committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in government services. Such raids will continue to deter illegal activities and protect citizens from exploitation,” he added.
Among those arrested was Sukhwinder Singh, a private agent from Mohali, who was caught red-handed accepting Rs 2,500 as part of a Rs 5,000 bribe to facilitate a driving license and ensure clearance of the test. In Fatehgarh Sahib, another agent, Paramjit Singh, was apprehended while taking Rs 5,000 for similar illegal services.
He further informed that in Ludhiana, the EOW unit detained three individuals—Pankaj Arora alias Sunny, Deepak Kumar and Manish Kumar—for demanding bribes ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,500. The Ludhiana VB range also arrested two more agents, Taisiff Ahmed Ansari and Honey Arora, for allegedly charging Rs 7,000 and Rs 5,500 respectively to secure licenses.
(SUBHEAD)In Jalandhar, Mohit Kumar and Vijay Kumar were caught red handed accepting Rs 2,000 to fast-track driving test appointments. In Hoshiarpur, agent Ashok Kumar was arrested for taking Rs 5,000 to clear a driving test without proper trials. A significant seizure occurred in Kapurthala, where an agent Sher Amrik Singh was held with Rs 12,000 in cash, exposing suspected collusion with RTA officials.
The SBS Nagar, VB team also took action against two RTA employees—Jatinder Singh, a Junior Assistant and Manish Kumar, a Data Entry Operator—along with two private agents, Kewal Krishan and Kamal Kumar, for their involvement in corrupt practices.
In Sangrur, VB also took action against Lovepreet Singh who demanded Rs. 7000 from the complainant for his driving licence and Avinas Garg Data Entry operator Punjab State Transport Society. Similary in Tarn Tarn, VB also booked accused Lakhbir Singh Dhilon private agent demanded bribe Rs. 3500 from the complainant for making driving licence. Likewise in Gurdaspur, VB have clear cut evidence of recording against accused Kulbir Singh and Indrass (both are agent) who demanded Rs. 9000 for MVI officials.
Furthermore, VB also booked Krishan Lal, Inderjit Singh and Agent Naveen Kumar for making RCs by using fake address in Bathinda.
The investigations of these cases are being conducted professionally and VB will unearth complete modus operandi, look for any further accomplices including officials/officers of RTA office to weed out corruption and malpractices, he said.
