The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing drive against corruption in the state, has apprehended Assistant Sub-Inspector Hardeep Singh posted at police station division No. 8, Ludhiana, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 14,000.
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 Gopal Nagar, Haibowal Kalan, Ludhiana.
He said the complainant informed that his daughter, who is about 22 years old, had passed the tailoring course from the Government ITI Ludhiana. She went to the Government ITI Ghumar Mandi to get her result, but she did not return home till evening. The complainant searched for her at his own level, but could not find his daughter.
The complainant later filed a report regarding the disappearance of his daughter at Police Station Division No. 8, Ludhiana, with Duty Officer ASI Hardeep Singh. Accused ASI Hardeep Singh called the complainant to the police station and demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 for taking action on his application, and received Rs 6,000 on the spot.
He further said that following orders from the senior officers, an FIR was registered at the Police Station Division No. 8, Ludhiana. Accused ASI Hardeep Singh demanded the remaining amount of Rs 14,000 from the complainant to give a copy of the FIR and initiate further action.
Unwilling to pay illegal gratification, the complainant approached the VB Range Ludhiana. Acting on his complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the accused ASI was arrested red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 14,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.
In this regard, a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused at the VB police station, Ludhiana. Further investigation into this case is underway..