NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted a late-night raid at the Punjab Vigilance Bureau office in Mohali, leading to the arrest of several individuals alleged to be middlemen in a bribery case. Officials stated that the operation was part of an ongoing investigation into a bribe transaction reportedly involving approximately 20 lakh rupees.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the arrested individuals were allegedly collecting the bribe money on behalf of a senior officer within the vigilance department. This officer is reportedly absconding and has not been reachable by phone since the raid, according to sources.
The CBI team arrived at the vigilance bureau premises late Monday night to carry out the operation. The arrested middlemen were reportedly under police security provided by the Punjab government, a detail that emerged following the arrests.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from political quarters, with Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia taking to social media platform X to attack the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab. Majithia alleged that corruption was being exposed sequentially within the state government. He specifically mentioned the alleged 20 lakh bribe deal, noting that the central agency had reportedly recovered 13 lakh rupees during the operation.
Majithia further stated that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann lacked the moral authority to continue in his position, including his role as Home Minister, in light of these allegations. The CBI’s action underscores a significant development in the ongoing efforts to combat corruption within the state’s administrative machinery.
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau is the state’s anti-corruption agency, responsible for investigating corruption cases involving public servants. The CBI, India’s premier central investigative agency, often takes over sensitive cases, particularly those involving allegations of corruption at higher levels or when inter-state implications are suspected. The raid signifies a direct intervention by the CBI into the functioning of a state-level vigilance body, highlighting the seriousness of the alleged bribery scheme.
The recovery of a substantial sum of money during the operation suggests a well-established network for facilitating and collecting bribes. The involvement of middlemen points towards an organized system designed to circumvent official channels and extract illicit payments. The ongoing investigation aims to trace the flow of money and identify all individuals involved, including the senior officer allegedly at the center of the scheme. The outcome of the CBI’s investigation is expected to shed further light on the extent of corruption within the vigilance department and potentially lead to broader reforms.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
