Vigilance Bureau catches Forest Department guard and daily wager red-handed while taking bribe

Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): The Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Tuesday arrested Forest Department guard Kuldeep Singh and daily wage worker Darshan Singh Meth red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹20,000. Both accused were posted at the Forest Range Office, Nakodar, in Jalandhar district.

According to a spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau, the arrests were made following a complaint filed by a resident of village Sanghowal, sub-tehsil Mehatpur, Jalandhar district.

Bribe demanded after motorcycle seized

The complainant, who works as a labourer, stated that after his domestic LPG cylinder was exhausted, he was collecting small pieces of wood from trees along the Mehatpur–Jagraon road for household use. During this time, Forest Department guard Kuldeep Singh and daily wager Darshan Singh Meth reached the spot and threatened him with a case of theft of government timber. They also seized his motorcycle.

₹20,000 demanded for release of motorcycle

Later, the complainant contacted Darshan Singh Meth, who informed him that Kuldeep Singh was demanding a bribe of ₹20,000 in exchange for releasing the motorcycle. Despite repeated requests, Darshan Singh continued to demand the bribe amount on behalf of the guard. The complainant recorded the conversation related to the bribe demand.

Trap laid, both accused arrested

After a preliminary verification of the complaint, the Vigilance Bureau laid a trap. During the operation, both accused were caught red-handed while accepting the ₹20,000 bribe from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.

A case has been registered against the accused at the Vigilance Bureau police station in Jalandhar under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Further investigation in the matter is underway.