Punjab Vigilance Bureau arrests PSPCL lineman for demanding a bribe

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, has arrested Hardeep Singh, Lineman, PSPCL, posted at Sub-Division Jastarwal, Amritsar district for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 15000.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above said accused has been arrested based on a complaint filed by a resident of village Muhara, tehsil Lopoke in Amritsar district on the Chief Minister’s Anti Corruption Action Line.

The complainant had alleged that electricity transformer installed in his fields had fell down during the recent storms but the said accused lineman had demanded an illegal gratification of Rs 15,000 in return for carrying out the said work.

The spokesperson informed that verification of said complaint revealed that the accused Lineman had demanded a bribe of Rs 15,000 and accepted first installment of Rs 5000 in cash. Later the accused lineman compelled the complainant to pay Rs 1000 to a private person for assisting installing the transformer. Moreover, the accused persistently demanded the remaining Rs 10,000 through voice messages and calls. Afterwards, the complainant had transferred Rs 10,000 via Google Pay on his mobile.

He further informed that corroborating the evidence, including call recordings, screenshots of the UPI transactions, bank statement and voice messages of the accused, it has come to light that the accused had indeed demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs 15,000 from the complaint.

Based on the probe, a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the aforementioned accused at VB police station Amritsar range. The accused would be produced before the competent court tomorrow. Any involvement of other officials or employees would be investigated during further investigation, he said.