The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing campaign against
corruption in the state, arrested Suresh Kumar, a clerk posted at
Nagar Council, Malout, in the Sri Muktsar Sahib district, for
accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a underprivileged widow.

Disclosing this here on Sunday, an official spokesperson of the state
VB said that the aforementioned accused has been arrested based on a
complaint lodged by a resident of Malout.

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He said the complainant had approached the VB alleging that the
accused had demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000 for releasing money under
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) Mission to construct a dwelling
house but the deal has been struck to pay the bribe in instalments.

After preliminary verification of the complaint, he said VB officials
laid a trap and caught Suresh Kumar red-handed while accepting Rs
20,000 as a first instalment of bribe at the house of the complainant.

The tainted money was recovered on the spot from the accused in the
presence of two official witnesses.

In this regard, a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been
registered against the said accused at the VB police station, Bathinda
range and further investigation was under progress, he said.

The Vigilance Bureau reiterated its commitment to eradication of
corruption and urged the public to report any instance of bribery
through the Chief Minister’s Anti Corruption Action Line number
9501-200-200.

The spokesperson added that the Bureau would conduct enquiries and
investigations strictly in accordance with law on the complaints
received and would ensure appropriate action against the corrupt
public servants if allegations were found to be true.