Lalru ASI caught taking Rs 30K bribe

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Monday arrested Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Baljinder Singh, posted at Lalru police station, while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000.

A spokesperson of the state VB said the cop was arrested following a complaint by a resident of Channa Gulab Singh Wala village in Bathinda district, presently residing at Gillco Valley, Kharar. He added that the complainant approached the VB and stated that the ASI, who was investigating a case registered against him under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC at the Lalru police station, had demanded a bribe of Rs 1,30,000. The amount was sought in lieu of extending “undue favour” in the investigation, which included avoiding recovery of the cheated amount of Rs 10,00,000 during police remand, conducting a lenient investigation in future and releasing the complainant’s car which was impounded by the accused officer but not shown on record.

Out of the total demand, the accused had specifically asked for the first instalment of Rs 30,000 to be paid immediately. The complainant had recorded the demand raised by the accused and submitted it to the VB in support of his allegations.

Acting on the complaint, the VB Flying Squad registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and constituted a trap team.

The accused ASI called the complainant to meet him at Punjabi Vaishno Dhaba on the national highway at Lalru.

The trap team caught the accused red-handed while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from the complainant. Two official witnesses were present when the bribe was accepted.