Punjab Government tightens the noose on corruption

Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu):  Since the assumption of office by the Punjab Government, an intensified campaign against corruption and unethical practices has been consistently pursued. Through sustained and strict action, a noticeable decline in bribery has been recorded, with agencies such as the Punjab Vigilance Bureau conducting rigorous operations on a daily basis.

With the objective of eradicating corruption from society, a multi-pronged strategy has been adopted by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) to clamp down on bribe-takers while simultaneously enhancing public awareness against this social menace. As part of these efforts, 187 individuals were caught red-handed while accepting bribes in different cases, underlining the Punjab Government's commitment to transparent, efficient, and accountable governance.

As per official records, during 2025, a total of 127 trap cases were registered by the Vigilance Bureau. In these cases, 144 government employees from various departments, along with 43 private individuals, were apprehended while accepting bribes. In line with the zero-tolerance policy against corruption, 18 gazetted officers and 126 non-gazetted employees were arrested between 1 January and 31 December 2025.

Throughout the year-long drive, officials from multiple departments were caught in separate bribery cases. These included 43 personnel from the Punjab Police, 20 from the Revenue Department, 21 from the Power Department, 14 from the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, 9 from the Transport Department, 8 from the Local Bodies Department, five each from the Forest and Health Departments, and three from the Mandi Board. Additionally, two employees each from the Education, Cooperation, Food and Civil Supplies, and Personnel Departments were also apprehended in corruptionrelated cases.

In connection with these incidents, 113 criminal cases were registered against the accused, comprising 17 gazetted officers, 98 non-gazetted employees, and 118 private individuals. Moreover, 38 vigilance inquiries were initiated to probe complaints of corruption involving 17 gazetted officers, 20 nongazetted employees, and 15 private individuals. Ten cases pertaining to disproportionate assets were also registered against four gazetted officers, five non-gazetted employees, and two private individuals.

During the course of trials in Vigilance Bureau cases, several accused were convicted by courts. Following these convictions, six non-gazetted employees were dismissed from service by their respective administrative departments. It was further stated that 64 vigilance inquiries were successfully disposed of during 2025.

Over the year, several senior officials were either arrested or booked in corruption cases. These included Block Development and Panchayat Officers Paramjit Singh, Dhanwant Singh, Kulwant Singh, Lakhbir Singh, and Hardayal Singh posted in Fazilka, Abohar, Amritsar, and Kapurthala; Amrit Singh, Forest Range Officer (Hoshiarpur); Narinderpal Singh, Executive Engineer; and Assistant Town Planners Sukhdev Vishisht, Jaspal Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Raj Kumar, and Charanjit Singh posted in the Municipal Corporations of Jalandhar, Patiala, Bathinda, Phagwara, and Gurdaspur. Several other similar cases were also reported during the year.

63 Convicts Sentenced in 34 Cases

Under the Prevention of Corruption Act, various courts awarded sentences to 63 accused in 34 cases registered and contested by the Vigilance Bureau. The convicted included three gazetted officers, 38 non-gazetted employees, and 22 private individuals. Sentences ranging from one to five years of imprisonment were handed down, along with fines between ₹5,000 and ₹2,01,000. The total fine imposed amounted to ₹18,71,000.

Public Awareness Campaigns Intensified

As part of efforts to educate citizens, extensive awareness campaigns were carried out during Vigilance Awareness Week. Seminars and public meetings were organized across urban and rural areas, and an oath of integrity was administered to all officers and employees of the Bureau.

During 2025, the Vigilance Bureau received a total of 6,158 complaints, including 363 complaints received through the anti-corruption helpline, reflecting growing public participation in the fight against corruption.