Vigilance bureau arrested 134 officials this year

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab vigilance bureau arrested 134 officials from different departments and 17 private individuals while accepting bribe in a total of 118 cases this year.

Disclosing this here on Saturday, vigilance bureau chief director BK Uppal, ADGP, said the bureau has vowed to deal with corruption with an iron hand.

“Adopting a zero tolerance policy towards all forms of corruption, the bureau has arrested 12 gazetted officers and 122 non-gazetted officials since January 1 to December 30, 2017. Out of this, 25 officials were arrested with the bribe money ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh,” he said.

The official said that during the year, apart from other departments, 39 officials of Punjab Police, 34 of revenue department, 12 of powercom, 7 of local bodies department, 6 of panchayats and rural development and 5 of irrigation department were nabbed red-handed while taking bribes in separate cases.

A total of 95 vigilance inquires have been registered to probe graft complaints against 50 gazetted officers, 71 non-gazetted officers and 55 private persons, he said.

Five disproportionate asset cases have been registered against four gazetted officers and one non-gazetted officer, added Uppal.

39 OFFICIALS OF PUNJAB POLICE, 34 OF REVENUE DEPARTMENT, 12 OF POWERCOM WERE NABBED TAKING BRIBE