Punjab:VB Nabs Social Activist, Private Doctor for Accepting bribe of rs 2 lakhs from Petrol Pump Owner

Punjab:VB Nabs Social Activist, Private Doctor for Accepting bribe of rs 2 lakhs from Petrol Pump Owner

As part of its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Thursday arrested a private doctor and a social activist while accepting brie of Rs 2 lakhs.

Those arrested have been identified as Dr Ashok Kumar, BAMS, who is running a Navjeewan Clinic and Social Activist Rajvir Singh of Sundar Nagar, Ludhiana.

Revealing the details here today, an official spokesperson of the VB said that the accused persons have been arrested on the complaint of Lakhvir Singh of Guru Gobind Singh Nagar, Barota road, Ludhiana.

The complainant Lakhvir Singh in his complaint said that he had obtained licence of Petrol Pump from Hindustan Petroleum company few months back after getting all the Government approvals. The petrol pump has been established at the land of Sukhdev Singh. Few days back, Social activist Rajvir Singh along with 3/4 persons came in his Car bearing registration number PB10CK4171 and started taking photographs of his Petrol Pump, citing that Petrol Pump has been established illegally and he will get it removed, he stated in a complaint.

Complainant Lakhvir Singh further stated that he tried to clarified that he has taken NOCs from all the departments and on which Rajvir Singh started threatening him that he will get his license cancelled. Following which the Rajvir along with some persons on Monday, submitted a memorandum to DC Ludhiana, who marked it to the concerned department for verification, he stated.

Divulging more details, official spokesperson said that the complainant then disclosed the matter to owner of land Sukhdev Singh, who approached Dr Ashok Kumar who is known to be close of Rajvir Singh. Dr Ashok kumar demanded 25 Lakh bribe on name of District Food and Supply Controller (DFSC) East Ludhiana and concerned officer of Punjab Pollution Control Board Ludhiana, he said, adding that the complainant managed to make both agree for 15 lakhs. Rajvir and Dr Ashok demanded Rs 2 lakhs in advance and Rs 3 lac in 2-4 days, while, the balance Rs 10 lac in two instalments.

The spokesperson said that following the complaint, an FIR No 14 dated 06.07.23 has been registered under section 7-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act and section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Police Station VB Range Ludhiana.

After the preliminary investigation, the spokesperson said that a VB Bureau team laid a trap and arrested both Dr Ashok Kumar and Rajvir Singh red handed while taking of Rs 2 lakhs in presence of Government witnesses on name of officers of DFSC and PPCB on the pretext of taking no action against his petrol pump. Both accused have been arrested from Navjeewan Clinic, which is being run by Dr Ashok Kumar and will be produced in court on Friday.