ThePunjab Vigilance Bureau today arrested a forest guard Ranjit Khan posted atMirzapur, Sub-Tehsil Majri, S.A.S. Nagar district while accepting a bribe ofRs. 4,50,000 on behalf of block officer Baldev Singh.
Disclosingthis here today, DGP-cum-Chief Director Vigilance Bureau B.K. Uppal saidaccused Baldev Singh block officer posted at Mirzapur has demanded a bribe ofRs 5,50,000 from the complainant Bhupal Kumar resident of Kharar for markingthe wood with official hammer mark.
Hehas already obtained Rs 5,00,000 as bribe from the complainant on 28/03/2021.This bribe was demanded for reducing the fine (damage report) for cutting someunmarked trees vis-a-vis for transporting the wood in open market.
VBchief further informed that the complainant has a permit issued by the forestdepartment to cut and sell Khair trees situated at village Mirzapur in Majriblock. He has the permission till 31/3/2021 to remove the trees from the site.However, he was stopped from transporting the wood by the suspects reasoningthat there's a complaint against him regarding some irregularities in cuttingof wrong unmarked trees.
Inaddition, DGP VB said that the suspects had demanded Rs 2000 per tree from thecomplainant and has already taken Rs 5.00 lacs from them but now they aredemanding the remaining bribe amount of Rs 3,20,000 in lieu of allowing them totransport the wood, reducing the fine from Rs 3,54,000 to 2,50,000 and issuingfine report in the name of the associate of the complainant.
BKUppal highlighted that co-accused Ranjit Khan was arrested today from OmaxeTower parking area while accepting Rs 4,50,000 as bribe from the complainant onbehalf of his senior block officer Baldev Singh. During the search Rs 4,64,000in cash was also recovered from the car of accused on the spot. Furtherinvestigation regarding the source of this amount is under process. Apart fromthis, Rs 1,00,000 has also been recovered from the residence of the accusedRanjit Khan during his house search. This is a part of bribe money Rs 5,00,000taken by the accused earlier.
Sharingmore details, he added that accused Baldev Singh block officer is stillabsconding and efforts are on to apprehend him.
Furthermore,official hammer of block officer, Mirzapur is also recovered from the car ofthe accused Ranjit Khan. In this regard, a case has been registered u/s 7,prevention of corruption act and 120-B IPC at vigilance police station S.A.S.Nagar and further investigation is under progress.