As part of its ongoing anti-corruption drive, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) today arrested Sawinder Singh, a registry clerk from Bhikiwind in Tarn Taran district, and Malkeet Singh, a deed writer from the same area, for accepting a bribe of ₹37,000.
An official spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau revealed that the accused had demanded the bribe from Gurbhej Singh, a resident of Bhikiwind, Tarn Taran. Gurbhej Singh had alleged that during the partition of his ancestral land, 2 kanals and 2 marlas of agricultural land were mistakenly registered in the names of his relatives. He had completed all required formalities and paid the necessary fees to the government treasury back in April 2025.
Despite completing all procedures and obtaining the required stamp papers, his land registry was not processed. Seeking help, he approached Malkeet Singh, a local deed writer, to assist in registering the land in his name.
Gurbhej claimed that Malkeet Singh deliberately got his scheduled appointment with the Tehsildar for 24.04.2025 cancelled. Upon further inquiry, he discovered that registry clerk Sawinder Singh was demanding a bribe of ₹32,000 to proceed with the case. Not willing to pay for something that was rightfully his, Gurbhej reported the matter to the Deputy Superintendent of Police, VB Unit Tarn Taran.
Following this, his statement was formally recorded at the Vigilance Bureau office, and a trap was laid. The accused was caught red-handed while accepting ₹37,000 in the presence of a government witness. An FIR has been registered against them under Sections 7 and 7-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended), at the Vigilance Bureau Police Station, Amritsar Range.
The case is currently under investigation, and both accused will be presented before the competent court tomorrow.