The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has apprehended a senior accountant of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000. The accused, identified as Rajesh Kumar, was posted at the PSPCL's sub-division office in Ludhiana. The arrest was made following a complaint lodged by a resident who claimed that the accountant had been demanding the bribe to clear pending electricity bills.
Details of the Operation
According to a spokesperson of the Punjab VB, the complainant had approached the bureau with a written complaint alleging that Rajesh Kumar was persistently demanding a bribe of Rs 15,000 to process and clear his pending electricity bills. The complainant stated that despite repeated requests, the accountant refused to clear the bills without the bribe payment. Acting swiftly on the complaint, the VB laid a trap and caught the accountant red-handed while he was accepting the bribe amount from the complainant at his office.
Legal Proceedings Initiated
The accused has been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act. A case has been registered at the VB police station in Ludhiana. The VB is conducting further investigations to ascertain if any other individuals were involved in the corrupt practice. The spokesperson added that the bureau remains committed to eradicating corruption from the state's public services and urged citizens to report any such instances without fear.
PSPCL's Response
PSPCL authorities have assured full cooperation with the Vigilance Bureau in the investigation. A senior PSPCL official stated that the corporation has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and will take strict disciplinary action against the accused accountant. The official also mentioned that steps are being taken to streamline the billing process to minimize human intervention and reduce the scope for corruption.
Public Reaction
The arrest has been welcomed by the local residents and consumer rights groups, who have long complained about corrupt practices in the power corporation. Many hope that this action will serve as a deterrent to others involved in similar malpractices. The VB has encouraged the public to come forward with any evidence of corruption, promising strict action against the guilty.
This is not the first such incident involving PSPCL employees. In the past year, several cases of bribery and corruption have been reported, leading to arrests and departmental actions. The Vigilance Bureau has intensified its efforts to curb corruption in government departments, especially in public utility services like electricity and water supply.
