Punjab Vigilance Bureau arrests Forest Guard & Daily Wage Worker red-handed while accepting Rs. 20,000 bribe in Nakodar, Jalandhar; investigation ongoing.

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), as part of its ongoing anti-corruption drive, has arrested Kuldeep Singh, a Forest Guard, and Darshan Singh Mate, a daily wage worker, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs. 20,000. Both were posted at the Forest Range Office in Nakodar, Jalandhar.

According to an official spokesperson, the arrests were made following a complaint by a resident of Sanghowal village, Mehatpur sub-tehsil, Jalandhar district. The complainant, a labourer, had gone to collect small pieces of wood from trees along the Mehatpur-Jagraon road after his domestic gas cylinder ran out. Kuldeep Singh and Darshan Singh Mate approached him, threatened to register a case of theft of government wood, and took his motorcycle into their custody.

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The spokesperson added that when the complainant contacted Darshan Singh Mate, he revealed that Kuldeep Singh was demanding Rs. 20,000 for the release of the motorcycle. Despite repeated pleas, the accused remained firm on the bribe amount. The complainant recorded the conversation as evidence of the illegal demand.

Following a preliminary inquiry, the VB laid a trap, leading to the arrest of both accused while they accepted the Rs. 20,000 bribe in the presence of two official witnesses.

A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against Kuldeep Singh and Darshan Singh Mate at the VB Police Station, Jalandhar, and further investigation is ongoing.