Tarn Taran Land Registry Scam: Two Held for Taking Bribe
In a major breakthrough in its ongoing crackdown on corruption, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has exposed a bribery nexus between revenue officials and deed writers in Tarn Taran district.
On August 6, 2025, the Bureau arrested Sawinder Singh, a registry clerk, and Malkeet Singh, a deed writer from Bhikiwind block, for accepting a bribe of ₹37,000 in a land registry case.
Complainant Denied Justice Despite Fulfilling Formalities
The action followed a complaint filed by Gurbhej Singh, a resident of Bhikiwind. He alleged that despite completing all legal procedures and depositing the necessary fees for registering 2 kanals and 2 marlas of his ancestral agricultural land, he was denied registry by officials.
Gurbhej Singh stated that in April 2025, he approached the Tehsil office after buying stamp papers and submitting all paperwork. However, when he met Malkeet Singh, the deed writer, his appointment for land registration was abruptly cancelled by the Tehsildar.
On further inquiry, Gurbhej discovered that registry clerk Sawinder Singh had demanded a bribe of ₹32,000 to process his legitimate request.
Vigilance Bureau Traps the Corrupt Officials
Refusing to pay the bribe, the complainant approached DSP VB Unit Tarn Taran to expose the officials involved. The Vigilance Bureau recorded his statement and laid a trap.
Soon after, Sawinder Singh was caught red-handed while accepting ₹37,000, including the original bribe demand and additional facilitation charges. A government witness was present at the time of the trap.
Following the incident, an FIR was registered under Sections 7 and 7-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended by the PC Amendment Act. The case is now under active investigation.
Both the accused are to be presented before the competent court.
A Part of Punjab’s Larger Anti-Corruption Drive
This case is one of many that have emerged since Punjab’s state-wide anti-corruption campaign intensified. The Vigilance Bureau is continuing its efforts to root out corruption in public offices, especially in departments dealing with land and revenue.
Officials say such bribery rackets deny justice to honest citizens and weaken trust in governance. By making public services transparent, the government aims to restore credibility.