Chandigarh, January 28
In its continued crackdown on corruption, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested Kuldeep Singh, a Forest Guard, and Darshan Singh Mate, a Daily Wage Worker, red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹20,000. Both were posted at the Forest Range Office in Nakodar, Jalandhar district.
A VB spokesperson disclosed today that the arrests followed a complaint lodged by a resident of village Sanghowal, sub-tehsil Mehatpur, district Jalandhar.
According to the complainant, who works as a daily labourer, his domestic gas cylinder had run out. While collecting small pieces of dry wood from along the Mehatpur-Jagraon road for household use, the two accused — Kuldeep Singh (Forest Guard) and Darshan Singh Mate (Daily Wage Worker) — arrived at the spot. They accused him of theft of government property, threatened to register a case, and seized his motorcycle.
The complainant later contacted Darshan Singh Mate, who conveyed that Forest Guard Kuldeep Singh was demanding ₹20,000 to release the motorcycle. Despite repeated pleas, the accused insisted on the full bribe amount. The complainant secretly recorded the conversation in which the illegal demand was clearly discussed.
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Following a preliminary verification of the complaint, the Vigilance Bureau laid a trap. Both accused were caught red-handed accepting the bribe of ₹20,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.
A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against them at VB Police Station, Jalandhar. Investigation into the matter is ongoing.
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau reiterated its commitment to rooting out corruption at all levels and assured prompt action on every genuine complaint.
