-Accused Had Already Pocketed ₹12,000 in Installments
Chandigarh, November 1
In a sharp strike against corruption, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) today arrested Forester Surinderjit Pal from the Forest Department, Mahilpur (Hoshiarpur), red-handed while accepting a ₹15,000 bribe from a woodcutter in Village Thidan, Garshankar.
How It All Started
The complainant, a woodcutter for over 10 years, parked his car on his uncle’s plot on October 11, 2025, after work. While he went home for dinner, his partner Gurvinder Singh (alias Goni) stayed with the vehicle.
When he returned, Goni was missing, and tree-cutting tools were gone.
Village Sarpanch Harpreet Singh told him:
“Range Officer Amarjit Singh and 3–4 forest staff came in a government vehicle, seized the tools, and asked you to visit the Mahilpur Forest Office.”
The Bribe Demand
At the office, Range Officer Amarjit Singh accused the woodcutter of stealing government trees from the canal area and slapped a ₹1.23 lakh fine.
The woodcutter insisted:
“I only cut legally purchased trees.”
Amarjit demanded ₹31,000 bribe to return the tools. The woodcutter said he couldn’t pay that much. Amarjit then ordered:
“Give ₹2,000 now to Forester Surinderjit Pal.”
The woodcutter paid ₹2,000 in front of the Sarpanch. The rest was to be paid later.
Installment Bribes
- Next visit: Paid ₹10,000 to Surinderjit Pal.
- Final ₹19,000 due on Oct 29 – but the woodcutter couldn’t arrange it.
Surinderjit Pal called again, demanding the balance. The woodcutter said:
“I can pay only ₹15,000.”
Surinderjit agreed and asked him to come. The call was recorded as evidence.
watch….Vigilance Bureau’s Bold Move Against Corruption
The Trap & Arrest
VB verified the complaint, registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and laid a trap.
A Jalandhar Range VB team caught Surinderjit Pal red-handed accepting ₹15,000 in front of two official witnesses.
What’s Next?
- Case filed at VB Police Station, Jalandhar Range.
- Accused to be produced in court tomorrow.
- Investigation ongoing – Range Officer Amarjit Singh also named.
Total Bribe Taken So Far: ₹12,000 (in parts) + ₹15,000 (caught) = ₹27,000
