In a crackdown on corruption, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Friday arrested Patwari Sarabjit Singh, posted at Circle Golward, Village Bala Chak, District Tarn Taran, while accepting the second installment of a bribe of Rs25,000 from a complainant in Amritsar district.
According to VB officials, the complainant was attempting to sell his land and had obtained a copy of the mutation (fard) of the property. He discovered that the land was registered under someone else’s name. When he approached Patwari Sarabjit Singh to correct the mutation, the official demanded a bribe of Rs1 lakh for updating the land records.
After negotiations, the bribe was reduced to Rs30,000. Singh had already received Rs5,000 as the first installment. Acting on the complainant’s tip-off, the VB laid a trap and arrested him red-handed while collecting the remaining Rs25,000, in the presence of two official witnesses.
A case under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at the Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Range Amritsar. Patwari Sarabjit Singh will be presented in the competent court tomorrow. Further investigation is ongoing.
