Ludhiana Vigilance Bureau Probes Senior Police Officer in Bribery Sting Operation
The Vigilance Bureau in Ludhiana has intensified its investigation into a senior station house officer (SHO) following the dramatic "red-handed" arrest of an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) accused of soliciting bribes to obstruct a multi-crore-rupee fraud case. This development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing probe into police corruption within the city's law enforcement agencies.
Sting Operation Leads to ASI's Arrest
Vigilance Bureau officials executed a carefully planned sting operation on Tuesday, resulting in the arrest of ASI Janak Raj, who heads the Kailash Chowk police post. According to investigators, Raj was apprehended while allegedly accepting an initial payment of Rs 15,000 from Gaurav Kumar. Kumar's brother, Amit Kumar Pabbi, is currently in custody as a suspect in an alleged fraud case involving approximately Rs 4.57 crore.
The investigation reveals that Raj had reportedly demanded a total bribe of Rs 2.5 lakh from the complainant. In a shocking revelation, Raj allegedly claimed that Rs 2 lakh of this amount was intended for his superior officer, Inspector Amritpal Sharma, the SHO of Division Number 8 police station, while the remaining Rs 50,000 was for himself. The bribe was solicited with the promise of preventing the fraud case from being transferred to the specialized Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) and avoiding further police remand for the suspect.
Evidence Points to Senior Officer's Involvement
The case against the police officers is primarily built on audio evidence provided by the complainant, Gaurav Kumar. Kumar has informed investigators that he was summoned to the police station where Inspector Sharma instructed him to "cooperate" with ASI Janak Raj to facilitate the evidence collection process. Immediately after leaving the SHO's office, Kumar alleges that the ASI made the specific demand for the Rs-2.5-lakh bribe.
"The SHO's name has surfaced because the complainant produced a recording of the ASI's demanding Rs 2 lakh specifically for his superior," a Vigilance Bureau official stated. "The role of the Division Number 8 SHO is now under active probe."
While ASI Janak Raj remains in custody following Tuesday's sting operation, authorities are meticulously verifying the authenticity of the audio recordings. This verification process is crucial to determine whether Inspector Sharma was directly involved in the bribery scheme or if the subordinate officer merely used his name to inflate the bribe amount and enhance his credibility with the complainant.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Proceedings
No formal charges have been announced against Inspector Amritpal Sharma at this stage of the investigation. However, the Ludhiana range Vigilance Bureau has confirmed that his conduct and potential involvement are a primary focus of their ongoing scrutiny. The bureau is examining all aspects of the case, including:
- The nature of instructions given by the SHO to the complainant
- The financial transactions and communication between all parties involved
- The broader implications for police integrity in fraud investigations
- Possible connections to other corruption cases within the department
This case highlights the Vigilance Bureau's continued efforts to combat corruption within law enforcement agencies in Punjab. The multi-crore fraud investigation that triggered this bribery attempt remains active, with authorities determined to ensure that financial crimes are prosecuted without interference from corrupt officials seeking personal gain.
