VIGILANCE BUREAU ARRESTS BDPO FOR TAKING BRIBE
Chandigarh January 12 : The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Friday has arrested Sarabjit Singh, block development and panchayats officer (BDPO), posted at block Mamdot, district Ferozepur for demanding and accepting bribes from Sarpanchs.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the accused BDPO has been arrested after finding him guilty of taking bribes after investigation of an enquiry.
Pippal Singh, the Sarpanch of village Kothe Kili Wale, Pargat Singh, the Sarpanch of village Muhammad Khan Niajian, Anokh Singh, the Sarpanch of village Gatti Mastan No.2, Gurbachan Singh, the husband of Paramjit Kaur, the Sarpanch of village Chak Amrik Singh Wala, Sarjit Singh, the Sarpanch of Gatti Masta No-01, and Paramjit Singh, the Sarpanch of village Kot Bishan Singh Manawala, have informed the investigation officer that the BDPO in question had accepted bribes from them both prior to and after the execution of the panchayat works. T
They further assert that he routinely delayed the approval of sanctions for village projects unless bribes were offered to him.
Sarpanch Jaswant Singh made two Google Pay transactions
The investigation also documented that, as compensation for the work carried out on the zero line at village Basti Dula Singh, Sarpanch Jaswant Singh made two Google Pay transactions of Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 5,000 from his ICICI bank account to the mobile account of BDPO Sarabjit Singh.
The Sarpanch in question additionally claimed that he recently transferred an additional Rs. 10,000 to the mentioned BDPO’s account for the completion of development projects in the village.
The complainants revealed that they had been paying bribes to the officer out of fear and compulsion, but they now refuse to continue this practice. The complainant has submitted screenshots of payments and bank account details as evidence to the Vigilance Bureau (VB).
In connection with these allegations, a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been filed against the BDPO at the VB police station in the Ferozepur range, after establishing his guilt in demanding and accepting bribes from Sarpanchs. He is scheduled to appear in the competent court tomorrow, with ongoing investigations in progress.
