PATIALA: Two days after a viral video exposed the "goonda tax ollection" by a village sarpanch and his associates, the police here on Sunday claimed to have arrested the main accused- Baljinder Singh, sarpanch of Maadu village in Patiala district.
Earlier, following the video, the police had registered a case of exotortion against the accused.
Immediately after his arrest, the police presesnted Baljinder before the duty magistrate, who sent him into two days police remand. However, five other accused, including two of his associaties, idnetified as Harmanpreet Singh and Harvinder Singh, are yet to be nabbed.
Superintedent of police P Rajesh Chibber said: "Accused Baljinder has been arrested. We haven't recovered any money from him. But we have obtained his two days police remand. Futher investigation is being carried out and it is expected that several other facts, icluding the amount of toll collection, may come to light."
Notably, the police on Friday registered a case against six accused, including the village sarpanch, for alegedly illegally collecting toll tax from commuters near Maadu village on the grounds that roads and the bridge were being damaged due to the passing of a large number of vehicles moving towards Ambala.