Troubles increase for former Punjab Chief Secretary VK Janjua, Centre clears prosecution in 17-year-old bribery case

Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): Former Punjab Chief Secretary and retired IAS officer VK Janjua will now face prosecution in a corruption case. The Central Government has granted official sanction to prosecute him in a 17-year-old case involving an alleged bribe of ₹2 lakh. The approval has been given under Sections 7 and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, by the Department of Personnel and Training. During a hearing in the High Court on Friday, Additional Solicitor General Satpal Jain informed the court about the Centre’s decision.

Allegations date back to 2009

The case relates to 2009, when Janjua was posted as Director-cum-Secretary in the Industries and Commerce Department of Punjab. He was allegedly caught accepting a bribe of ₹2 lakh during that period. Initially, the Vigilance Department declined to proceed further as he was an IAS officer. Later, a request was sent to the Central Government seeking sanction for prosecution. With the approval now granted, the matter will be heard in a Special Court.

Sanction after review of evidence

According to the official order, a preliminary inquiry found sufficient evidence against Janjua. The sanction was granted after reviewing the recommendation of the Punjab Government, the advice of the Central Vigilance Commission, and the investigation report. Notably, in 2022, after the Aam Aadmi Party formed the government in Punjab, Janjua was appointed as the 41st Chief Secretary of the state, replacing Anirudh Tewari. Following his retirement, the latest development is expected to increase his legal challenges.