Punjab Vigilance Bureau arrests Abohar fire officer for taking bribe

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Tuesday evening arrested Fire Officer Varinder Kathuria posted at Abohar for receiving a bribe of Rs 20,000. The suspect is incharge of the fire station located opposite to the bus stand.

A VB spokesman said the accused demanded a bribe from complainant Rishabh Kalia who markets new fire extinguishers and refills old fire extinguishers. 

He said accused Varinder Kathuria, fire officer, demanded a bribe of Rs 25,000 to 30,000 in the form of commission for the bills to be cleared by him. Besides this, the complainant met the accused at his house regarding clearance of his other bills also.

The complainant did not want to pay a bribe to him for his rightful work. Hence, to get such a “corrupt” official nabbed by the Vigilance Bureau, the complainant recorded his conversation and reported the matter to VB Unit in Fazilka, the spokesman said.

The statement of the complainant was recorded at the Vigilance Bureau, Fazilka. Subsequently, the accused was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe of Rs 20,000 in the presence of a government witness.

A case was registered against the accused under Section 7 of the PC Act, 1988, as amended by PC (Amendment) Act, 2018, at the Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Ferozepur. The instant case is under investigation. The accused fire officer will be produced before the competent court today.