Punjab SDM Arrested in Batala for Taking ₹50,000 Bribe; ₹14 Lakh Seized

Punjab (The Uttam Hindu): In a major action in Batala, Punjab, the Vigilance Bureau arrested Municipal Corporation Commissioner-cum-SDM Batala, Vikramjit Singh Panthe, late Friday night after he was caught red-handed taking a ₹50,000 bribe from a contractor. During a search of his residence, officials recovered the bribe amount and an additional ₹13.50 lakh in cash, taking the total seizure to ₹14 lakh. A case has been registered against him at the Vigilance Bureau Range, Amritsar.

The complainant, Amarpal Singh of BCO Complex Batala, said he had carried out patchwork and road repair jobs for the Municipal Corporation. Two bills were generated for the work ₹1,87,483 and ₹1,85,369 totaling ₹3,72,852. When he met the Commissioner to release the payment, the officer allegedly demanded 10% of the bill amount (around ₹37,000) as a bribe and directed him to meet SDO Rohit Uppal.

Amarpal Singh also had pending dues of ₹1,81,543 for a light and sound show and camera setup he had executed, bringing the total outstanding payment to ₹5,54,395. During their next meeting, the Commissioner demanded 9% of the pending amount as a bribe.

Refusing to pay, the complainant contacted the Vigilance Bureau Unit Gurdaspur and submitted ₹50,000 as trap money. The trap was laid, and Commissioner Vikramjit Singh Panthe was caught accepting the bribe in the presence of two government witnesses.

DSP Vigilance Gurdaspur, Sharanjit Singh, confirmed that a case has been registered and further investigation is ongoing. The accused will be produced in court on Saturday.