Jalandhar FCI official caught taking bribe of Rs 20,000

The Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing drive against corruption in the state, has caught Ruhi Bala Kalia, technical assistant posted in the office of FCI, Bhogpur, Jalandhar, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000.

Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the VB said the accused had been arrested on a complaint of manager of Guru Tegh Bahadur Rice Mill, Nangal Fida, Bhogpur, Jalandhar. The complainant stated that 49,086 bags of paddy were allotted to the rice mill for the procurement season 2025-26. Of the allotted quantity, two consignments of 1,160 bags of rice (each consignment consisting of 580 bags) were pending for dispatch to the FCI.

The consignments were dispatched to the FCI warehouse at Bhogpur. Accused Ruhi Bala Kalia demanded a bribe of Rs 25,000 from the complainant for clearing the consignments. The demand was made during a telephonic conversation held through the mobile phone of the complainant's munim Adarsh Kumar.

Earlier also, the accused had received Rs 50,000 from the complainant for clearing previous consignments of his firm. Apprehending the rejection of his consignments, the complainant agreed under compulsion to pay the bribe. However, upon his request, the accused agreed to accept Rs 20,000 for clearing the pending consignments. The entire conversation regarding the demand of bribe was recorded by the complainant.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, he approached the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, Kapurthala, and lodged a complaint. Acting upon the complaint, the Vigilance Bureau laid a trap, during which accused Kalia was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from the complainant in the presence of official witnesses.

A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused at VB police station, Jalandhar, and further investigation into this case is under progress.