Vigilance Bureau registers disproportionate assets case against excise officer Birdi

Chandigarh May 19 :

           The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Friday registered a case against Babir Kumar Birdi, Joint Director, GST, excise department Punjab, a resident of Lamba Pind, Jalandhar, for amassing assets than his known sources of income which were created through corruption as a government official. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the VB said the above mentioned officer during a check period from 01.04.2007 to 11.09.2020 had spent a total of Rs 5,12,51,688.37 while his actual income from all sources was of Rs 2,08,84,863.37. During the investigation, it was found that the said officer had spend Rs. 3,03,66,825 more than the income earned during the check period which was about 145.40 percent more than his total income.

          The spokesperson further informed that during this in-depth investigation it was proved that the said officer of the Punjab Excise Department had created more moveable and immovable assets than his actual income by misusing his official position. In this regard a case under section 13(1) (b) read with 13(2) of prevention of corruption act has been registered at VB Police Station Jalandhar Range. To arrest the above said accused, the VB has been conducting raids and would be arrested soon. Giving more information, the spokesperson informed that the said Balvir Kumar Virdi and other officers / employees of the Excise Department in collusion with some transporters and industry owners, have misappropriated a scam in GST collection and a case was registered under sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 120-B and sections 7, 7-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act on 21.08.2020 at VB police station, Flying Squad-1, SAS Nagar. The accused Balbir Kumar Birdi had joined the probe with the Bureau under the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Further investigation in this case was under progress.