The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing drive against corruption in the state, has apprehended Charanjit Singh, Assistant, complaint handling branch (CHB), posted at Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) office, Barring in Jalandhar Cantt red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs. 2000.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above mentioned accused have been arrested based on a complaint lodged by Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Sainik Vihar, village Dhillwan, Jalandhar.
He further informed that the complainant has approached the VB alleging that the above said accused has demanded a bribe of Rs 5000 for concerned Junior Engineer (JE) Surjit Singh and Rs 500 for himself for installing a new meter for domestic supply at his relative house in Rose Colony village Barring, in Jalandhar.
The complainant further alleged that the accused CHB has installed power meter at the house on 31-01-2025 and took Rs 3500 from his relative by informing to pay the remaining balance later. The accused was threatening the complainant and consumer to pay Rs 2000 as balance money otherwise the meter could be removed.
The spokesperson added that after a preliminary enquiry on his complaint a VB team from Jalandhar range laid a trap during which the accused CHB Assistant has been arrested red handed while he was accepting Rs 2000 as a bribe from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.
In this regard a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the said accused at VB police station Jalandhar range. The role of JE would also be probed during further investigation into this case, he said.