In a move to the state’s ‘zero-tolerance policy’ vision against corruption, the piloted move governed by CM’s direction led to the dramatic arrest of former Punjab Minister Sundar Sham Arora for offering a bribe to the VB’s senior officer to the tune of Rs 50 Lakh.
Sundar Sham Arora a former Industry Minister in the Congress Government has been suffering a couple of charges over the illegal allocation of government land where investigation on one of the cases is underway.
Presenting to you the inside story of the night-long operation, which was secretly moderated by top officials gave a ground-breaking success to the state’s vigilance team and a major push to CM’s vision of zero-tolerance policy against corruption.
Arora on October 14th was in Saraswati Apartment in Zirakpur, Mohali to pay condolence on the sad demise of AIG Vigilance Manmohan Sharma’s wife, while meeting the latter, Arora asked for his assistance in taking him out of all the legal battles he has been caught amidst owing to the previous scam and offered the bribe.
Arora when he met AIG Sharma said, “I am a businessman, please take me out of this case, I can give you Rs 1 Crore in total for this, half right now and the rest afterward.”
Soon after Arora’s departure, AIG Sharma informed Vigilance Chief Varinder Kumar about the incident and was shocked over the development who went on to inform Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann to seek his views on further action.
Vigilance arrests former minister Sundar Sham Arora for offering bribe Rs 50 lakh
In a move heading for his vision of a Corruption free Punjab, CM Mann along with the assistance of top officers plotted a detailed narrative to set a trap for arresting the former minister.
The highly confidential move involving CM Bhagwant Mann, VB Chief Varinder Kumar, and AIG Sharma along with the designated team proceeded over the operation to nab BJP leader Arora.
It was first decided that the money will be handed over to AIG Sharma at his residence but was later changed to Cosmo Mall in Zirakpur Mohali, based on the plan detailed. Sundar Sham Arora reached the mall as per their plan and was nabbed right at the moment while he was offering a bribe.
Everything went by the plan, during the entire operation CM was in touch with the VB Chief and AIG Sharma about the next move and their course of action in the operation.
Vigilance Chief Virender Kumar is a 1993 batch IPS officer who is known for his clean and bold image. That is why he has been given the command of the State's Vigilance Bureau after the Intelligence Department. Virender Kumar was the Head of Intelligence during the tenure of Capt. Amarinder Singh's government.