VB slaps another corruption case against Amritsar Improvement Trust accountant

Amritsar, February 2

The Vigilance Bureau (VB) has slapped another corruption case against Vishal Sharma, an accountant of the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT), for accepting Rs 45 lakh as illegal gratification.

He was booked following a complaint lodged by Major Singh, a resident of Sultanwind village here. He provided audio-visual evidence against Sharma to the VB leading to registration of an FIR under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act against him.

Earlier, Sharma was arrested by the VB in connection with Rs 8 lakh bribery case on January 6. He is currently lodged in a jail under judicial custody. The VB had also arrested former AIT law officer Gautam Majithia in the case.

A Vigilance spokesman said Major Singh lodged a complaint along with audio-visual evidence against Sharma on the Chief Minster’s anti-corruption action helpline. Immediately, a probe was launched and the allegations were found true.

Major Singh stated to the VB that in 1998, the AIT acquired around eight-and-half acres belonging to his father Bakshish Singh and paternal uncles Jagjit Singh and Harjit Singh under the New Amritsar scheme. He said the government had given compensation to those whose land was acquired under the scheme. He said they had filed a petition before the President, Land Acquisition Claims Tribunal, as they got less compensation. The court decided in their favour and directed the Improvement Trust to give 20 per cent more compensation to them.

Major Singh said the balance compensation was

Rs 1.5 crore and they met Vishal Sharma for getting the amount released. However, he demanded Rs 45 lakh as bribe for releasing the amount. As Sharma was adamant, they decided to give him bribe. Later, the accused issued three cheques of Rs 12 lakh each in the name of complainant’s father and two uncles. They gave Rs 30 lakh to Sharma. But the accused demanded remaining Rs 15 lakh from them. Major Singh said finding no way out, they gave the amount to him outside the AIT office following which he handed over cheques of Rs 34.47 lakh each to them.

Following probe, the VB found the allegations true and registered a fresh case against him. VB officials said Vishal Sharma would be brought on production warrant for further investigation.