Vigilance Bureau nabs Commissioner, Municipal Corporation cum SDM Batala red handed accepting a bribe of Rs 50K
Chandigarh, November 22, 2025 – In its ongoing crackdown on corruption, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) today arrested Vikramjeet Singh Panthey , Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Batala cum SDM Batala. Vigilance officials caught him red-handed while he accepted a bribe of Rs 50,000 from the complainant. They also recovered an unaccounted amount of Rs 13,50,000 during a further search of the accused.
A spokesperson of VB disclosed that the complainant is a resident of Batala district, Gurdaspur. The complainant had done patch work and repair work of roads at the Municipal Corporation Batala. Two bills for this work have been submitted for payment. The bills are for Rs. 1,87,483/- and Rs. 1,85,369/-, totaling Rs. 3,72,852/-. In this regard, he met the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Batala who told him that in order to receive the said payment of bills, he will have to give 10% commission for clearing these bills i.e Rs 37000 as a bribe.
SDM Batala : Vigilance Bureau got a recorded complainant statement
He further informed that complainant also did camera and other related work for a light and sound show in Batala, for which an amount of Rs.1,81,543/- was also pending for payment. In this way, a total amount to approximately Rs 5,54,395/- was due for payment. Regarding the payment of these bills, he met SDO Rohit Uppal. Rohit Uppal stated that they had to follow the Commissioner’s orders. The complainant had to give a 9% commission as a bribe to release the due amount. But the complainant did not want to get his work done by paying a bribe.
Acting on complainant information, the Vigilance Bureau got a recorded complainant statement at VB Unit Gurdaspur. VB verified the allegations. They laid a trap and apprehended Vikramjeet Singh Panthey red-handed. Officials caught him while he accepted a bribe of Rs 50,000 from the complainant. This occurred in the presence of two official witnesses.
Police have registered a case against the accused under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. This took place at the Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Range Amritsar. Officials will produce the accused in the competent court tomorrow, and investigators are carrying out further investigation.
