Three Revenue Officials Held in Rs. 2 Lakh Bribery Trap at Gohar; Patwari Assistant Caught Red-Handed Accepting Rs. 1 Lakh.
Shimla:
In a major crackdown on corruption, the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SV&ACB), Mandi, on Thursday successfully conducted a trap operation at Gohar in Mandi district and detained three revenue officials in connection with an alleged demand for a Rs. 2 lakh bribe for mutation-related work.
According to Vigilance officials, the complainant had approached the bureau alleging that Kanungo Bansi Lal and Patwari Arun Dhiman had demanded Rs 2 lakh as illegal gratification to process mutation proceedings. After verifying the complaint, the SV&ACB registered a case and planned a trap to apprehend those involved.
During the operation, Patwari Sahayak Lalit Kumar, who was allegedly deputed by the accused officials to collect the bribe money on their behalf, arrived to receive the amount from the complainant. The Vigilance team caught Lalit Kumar red-handed while he was allegedly accepting Rs. 1 lakh, the first instalment of the demanded bribe, at Gohar.
The tainted currency notes were recovered during the trap proceedings in accordance with legal procedures and in the presence of independent witnesses. Following the successful operation, the Vigilance Bureau detained all three accused officials—Kanungo Bansi Lal, Patwari Arun Dhiman and Patwari Sahayak Lalit Kumar—for further investigation.
An FIR, numbered 2/26, has been registered at the concerned Police Station of the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau under relevant provisions of law. Investigators are examining the roles of each accused, collecting documentary and electronic evidence, and recording statements as part of the ongoing probe.
Officials said further legal proceedings are underway, and all three accused will be produced before the competent court on Friday to seek their police remand for custodial interrogation. The Vigilance Bureau stated that the investigation is continuing and additional action will be taken based on the evidence collected during the course of the inquiry.
