CHANDIGARH: In a major crackdown under the Punjab government’s zero-tolerance policy against corruption, the State Vigilance Bureau has arrested Ramanjot Singh, Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) of the Mining Department in Dera Bassi, SAS Nagar district, for accepting a bribe of Rs 8 lakh.
The high-profile arrest came following a graft complaint lodged on the Chief Minister’s Anti-Corruption Action Line.
From Demands to Settlement: How the Trap Unfolded
According to the official spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau, an FIR (No. 16) was initially registered against SDO Ramanjot Singh after he allegedly demanded an exorbitant bribe of Rs 40 lakh from a local landowner.
The accused SDO later negotiated and agreed to lower the illegal gratification amount to Rs 19,40,000. Eventually, the officer settled for and accepted an instalment of Rs 8 lakh in exchange for refraining from taking action against the complainant, who had removed soil from his private land.
Key Takeaway: Investigators verified the extortion claims after the complainant submitted concrete audio-visual recordings, which corroborated the corruption charges against the bureaucrat.
Legal Action & Ongoing Probe
Following the verification of evidence, a formal case has been registered against the accused SDO at the Vigilance Bureau Police Station, Mohali, under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The Vigilance Bureau stated that comprehensive investigations are currently underway to examine if other officials or individuals were complicit in the extortion racket.
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