Chandigarh, Apr 21 (UNI) The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), on Monday, arrested Gurmel Singh, Panchayat Secretary, posted in Block Development and Panchayats Office, Barnala for demanding

and accepting a bribe of Rs 20000.

Disclosing this here an official spokesperson of the state VB said the accused has been arrested based on a complaint lodged by a contractor from Patiala.

He further added that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged that he had installed a solar pump on the Panchayat land at village Fatehgarh Chhana, in Barnala district costing Rs 3,84,000 in the year 2023 but the Panchayat Secretary demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 as a commission for forwarding the bills.

A case has been registered against both the accused at VB police station Patiala range. They would be produced before the competent court tomorrow and further investigation into this case was under progress, he said.

In another case VB on Monday, apprehended Raj Kumar, Assistant Town Planner (ATP), Municipal Corporation, Phagwara and Rajesh Kumar, a private Architect from Phagwara, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 50000.

He further added that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged that the said Architect had demanded a bribe of Rs 1,50,000 for getting approval of map plan for his house from the Town Planner but the deal was struck at Rs 50000.

A case has been registered against both the accused at VB police station Jalandhar range. They would be produced before the competent court tomorrow and further investigation into this case was under progress, he said. UNI GS SSP