Hoshiarpur, Mar 31 (UNI) In a major crackdown on corruption, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Monday arrested a Station House Officer (SHO) and an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) in Hoshiarpur district for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh.

b

SI Raman Kumar, posted as SHO at Bulowal police station, and ASI Gurdeep Singh were taken into custody following an investigation into an online complaint lodged on the Chief Minister’s Anti-Corruption Action Line on Sunday.

An official spokesperson of the VB said the complainant of Asalpur village in Hoshiarpur district, alleged that an FIR had been registered at Bulowal Police Station under the NDPS Act against his nephew.

He claimed that the accused officers were threatening to implicate his son in the case under Section 29 of the same Act unless a bribe was paid. Initially, the ASI demanded Rs1.5 lakh as bribe on behalf of the SHO, but after negotiations, the amount was reduced to Rs one lakh.

However, complainant secretly recorded conversations with the officers demanding the bribe and submitted the audio evidence to the VB.

A case was registered against the accused officers at the VB Police Station in Jalandhar Range.

Both accused have been arrested and will be produced before the competent court on Tuesday.

Further investigation is underway, said SSP Harpreet Singh Mander, VB Jalandhar Range.

UNI GS XC SS