The Punjab Vigilance Bureau, continuing its statewide anti-corruption drive, has arrested Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Harpal Singh, posted at the Counter Intelligence Office in Patiala district, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹20,000.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the State Vigilance Bureau said the accused official was arrested following a complaint filed by a resident of Nabha tehsil in Patiala district.
According to officials, the complainant’s relative had been investigated in 2023 for alleged links with the Khalistani movement. During the inquiry process, the accused ASI reportedly summoned the complainant to the Counter Intelligence office and claimed that he too was involved in the said activities.
The complainant alleged that ASI Harpal Singh demanded a bribe of ₹20,000 in exchange for issuing a favorable report, which was necessary for the complainant’s foreign travel clearance.
Refusing to pay the illegal gratification, the complainant approached the Vigilance Bureau Range Patiala and lodged a formal complaint. After conducting a preliminary verification, the vigilance team laid a trap.
The accused ASI was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe amount of ₹20,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.
The Vigilance Bureau stated that further investigation into the case is underway as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to curb corruption in public offices across Punjab.
