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LUDHIANA – The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) struck a major blow against institutional corruption on Friday. Officials apprehended Dr. Harkirat Gill, the Senior Medical Officer (SMO) at the Community Health Center (CHC) in Sidhwan Bet. Along with her, the Bureau arrested Satwinder Singh, a Senior Assistant at the same facility. Both individuals allegedly operated a bribery racket targeting their own subordinates.
The arrests followed a trap set by the VB’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Ludhiana. According to official reports, the duo demanded money from approximately 50 employees under the guise of “audit expenses.” This systemic extortion has shocked the local health department, as it targeted frontline healthcare workers.
Fraudulent “Audit Fees” Extorted from Employees
Officials demanded up to Rs 6,000 per staff member to influence the audit team.
Investigations reveal that an official audit was underway at the Sidhwan Bet health center. Exploiting this situation, Dr. Harkirat Gill allegedly used Satwinder Singh as a middleman. Together, they demanded bribes ranging from Rs 2,500 to Rs 6,000 from each employee. They claimed this money would ensure a favorable report from the visiting audit team.
However, a courageous health worker refused to comply and lodged a formal complaint. The VB team acted swiftly after verifying the allegations through a preliminary inquiry. Consequently, they caught Satwinder Singh red-handed while he was accepting Rs 32,000 from the complainant. Authorities immediately took both suspects into custody in the presence of government witnesses.
Massive Cash Recoveries and Legal Consequences
Vigilance teams seize over Rs 2 lakh in cash from the accused during the raid.
The crackdown led to significant cash recoveries that suggest a larger scale of operation. During the search, investigators found Rs 1,04,500 inside the purse of Dr. Harkirat Gill. Additionally, they recovered Rs 1,07,000 from the pockets of Satwinder Singh. These substantial sums highlight the extent of the alleged extortion racket within the medical facility.