The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its drive against corruption in the state, on Monday has apprehended SDO Neha Panchal, and her Assistant Naitak for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 15000.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the state VB said this case has been registered based on a complaint lodged by Sushil Kumar, a resident of Gagandeep Colony, Bhatian Bet, in Ludhiana and working as General Manger in Pitamaas Pvt. Ltd. Company, Ludhiana.
According to the complaint the said company is providing services as IEC Consultant to Ludhiana Smart City Project, under Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Ludhiana and the tender was allotted to the firm from 01-10-2023 to 30-09-2024. The complainant has approached the VB and informed that an annual bill totaling Rs 7,08,000 of the said company, was submitted in the office of Smart City at Municipal Corporation Zone-D, Ludhiana.
The complainant further alleged that when he visited the office Madam Neha Panchal, SDO, she demanded a bribe of Rs 15000 or 2 percent of the total amount for passing the said bill and the complainant has made recording of his conversation with SDO Neha.
The spokesperson added that after verification of the allegations levelled in the complaint, a VB team laid a trap during which an Assistant, namely Naitak, of SDO Neha Panchal, was apprehended red handed, who has been sent by her to collect the bribe money of Rs 15000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. Thereafter, SDO Neha was also arrested in this case.
In this regard a case has been registered against both the accused at VB police station Ludhiana range. Both accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigation into this case was under progress.