CHANDIGARH: In a significant anti-corruption move, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) today arrested Nirmal Singh, Junior Engineer (JE) of PSPCL posted at Dasuya, Hoshiarpur, along with Satnam Singh, a government-approved contractor, for accepting a bribe of Rs 15, 000.
According to a VB spokesperson, the complainant, a taxi driver and resident of Dasuya tehsil, owns a 13-marla plot in his village through which three-phase electrical wires ran to the motor of a local resident, Kanta, son of Desa Singh. He had submitted an application to the PSPCL Dasuya sub-division requesting that the wires be shifted to one side of his plot.
The spokesperson stated that JE Nirmal Singh conducted a site survey and demanded Rs 5, 000 from the complainant for preparing the estimate. After receiving the money, he processed the estimate but again asked for an additional Rs 5, 000. Later, both Nirmal Singh and contractor Satnam Singh visited the complainant’s home, with the JE claiming that the contractor was demanding Rs 12, 000 for the wire-shifting work. After negotiations, the complainant agreed to pay Rs 10, 000 and promised the remaining Rs 5, 000 once the work was completed.
Although the wires were shifted as per the approved plan, the complainant did not pay the bribe immediately. Despite the official government fee having already been paid, the accused repeatedly contacted him demanding illegal gratification. The complainant recorded the audio conversations and approached the Vigilance Bureau.