Faridkot court seeks VB’s reply on probe against IG in Rs 20 lakh bribery case

Special Judge Dinesh Kumar Wadhwa has directed the Vigilance Bureau (VB) to submit a status report on its investigation against an Inspector General of Police (IGP) in a Rs 20 lakh bribery case.

The direction came on an application filed by the head of a dera in the special court in Faridkot seeking an update on the investigation into the case. 

The VB has already filed a chargesheet against a Superintendent of Police (SP), DSP, and an SI in the case registered at Kotkapura sadar police station on June 2, 2023. The VB has remained silent on the role of the IG, alleged Gagan Dass, the complainant, who is the head of Dera Baba Harka Dass.

The case revolves around the alleged bribery of ₹50 lakh to manipulate the investigation of the 2019 murder of Sant Dayal Dass, the deputy head of the dera. Initially, a rival dera leader, Sant Jarnail Dass, was named as an accused, but he was later given a clean chit by a DIG-rank officer. However, in September 2022, the Punjab and Haryana High Court handed over the investigation to the IGP.

According to the complaint, the IGP demanded ₹50 lakh to re-nominate Jarnail Dass as an accused in the murder case. Of this, ₹20 lakh was allegedly paid, leading to the registration of an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act against the police officials.

While the VB had named SP Gagnesh Kumar, DSP Sushil Kumar, SI Khem Chang, and a private contractor in the corruption case and filed a chargesheet against them, no action has been taken against the IGP.