CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state on Tuesday registered a case against a Patwari Jasbir Singh, Now Kanugo, posted at Dakha, Ludhiana district and a private person Gurpreet Singh, working as his Assistant, for demanding a bribe of Rs 15, 000. In this case Jasvir Singh Kanugo has been arrested and efforts were being made to arrest another co-accused Gurpreet Singh.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said this case has been registered on an online complaint lodged by Harnek Singh Sekhon, a resident of village Chhapar, Ludhiana district on Chief Minister Anti Corruption Action line.
He further added that the complainant has alleged that both the above mentioned accused had demanded Rs 20, 000 as a bribe in lieu of entering mutation of his land.
During verification it was found that the associate of Patwari, Gurpreet Singh, has demanded Rs 20, 000 but when complainant discussed with Patwari he reduced the bribe amount to Rs 15, 000.
The complainant had recorded the conversation taken place between him, Gurpreet Singh and Patwari Jasvir Singh in his mobile phone. Previously the complainant had made viral the recording of conversation regarding demand of bribe raised by Patwari and his accomplice Gurpreet Singh on social media so that department would take action against them but no action was taken in this regard so far.
The spokesperson informed that thereafter, the complainant lodged the present complaint on anti corruption action-line. During investigation of this case, the voice recording of both suspects and complainant has been got compared from forensic science laboratory (FSL) by the VB Ludhiana range which was found matched and allegations proved to be true.
On the basis of this enquiry a FIR No 09 dated 27.02. 2024 under sections 7, 7-A of Prevention of Corruption Act and 120-B of IPC has been registered against Kanugo and his associate. Accused Jasvir Singh Kanugo would be produced in court tomorrow and role of other officers/officials would also be examined during the probe, he added.