The Central Bureau of Investigation, CBI, has arrested three persons in connection with an alleged 20 lakh rupees bribery case linked to officials of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau. One more accused, O.P. Rana, Reader to the DGP Vigilance Punjab, is absconding and efforts are underway to arrest him.
The arrests were made following a complaint by a Punjab State Tax Officer, who alleged that the accused demanded illegal gratification for securing closure of a complaint pending against him in the office of the Director General Vigilance, Punjab. According to the CBI, two accused from Malout in Muktsar district were allegedly acting as intermediaries for senior Vigilance officials, including the Reader to the DGP Vigilance. They allegedly assured the complainant that the matter could be settled after payment of the bribe amount.
The CBI is also probing the possible involvement of other persons in an alleged wider corruption nexus. Earlier, the agency conducted a raid at the Punjab Vigilance Bureau office in Mohali late last night. Meanwhile, Punjab Vigilance Bureau sources said the agency will fully cooperate with the CBI investigation and appropriate legal action will follow if any official is found involved.
