Vigilance Bureau arrests absconding Contractor for causing loss to state exchequer
Chandigarh December 17, 2024 – The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, on Tuesday arrested Vikas Khanna, a private contractor in Amritsar who was absconding in a corruption case registered against him by the Bureau. The accused had frequently been allotted a plot in Amritsar Improvement Trust, (AIT) Amritsar at much lower rate than the fixed price and had got government tenders deceptively.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above-mentioned accused has been arrested after investigation of the above said case. During the enquiry the VB has found that the accused contractor had got alloted a plot measuring 200 square yards at much below the market rate in his name in conviniance with the then Chairman of AIT therby causing a huge monetary loss to the state exchequer. It has also came to notice that the accused had fraduantly got his firm enlisted with the said Trust and was awarded Government tenders in violation of set norms and conditions. In addition to this, the accused also fraduantly got a Verka Milk booth sanctioned in his name.
The spokesperson added that based on the probe an FIR dated 06.07.2022 U/s 409, 201, 120-B and 13(2), 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act was registered at VB Police Station, Amritsar range. The accused was on the run and was declared Proclaimed Offender (PO) by the Trial Court. The VB teams had conducted multiple raids to nab the accused which forced him to surrender. The accused has been brought on production warrant from Central Jail Amritsar and arrested as per law. A remand of one day has been taken from the court for further investigating in all aspects of this case.