As part of its ongoing anti-corruption campaign, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested Varinder Goyal, who was serving as Reader to the President of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Tarn Taran, while accepting a bribe of ₹50,000.
An official spokesperson of the VB stated that the arrest was made following a complaint from a resident of village Deo in Tarn Taran district. According to the complainant, her husband, an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), had died in an accident in 2022. The Punjab Police Department had approved a compensation of ₹30 lakh, which was forwarded to HDFC Bank for disbursement. However, the bank declined to release the payment on dubious grounds, prompting her to file a case with the Consumer Forum.
The spokesperson revealed that the accused had demanded 10% of the compensation amount (₹3 lakh) as a bribe in exchange for ensuring a favorable verdict. Upon verifying the complaint, the Vigilance Bureau laid a trap and caught Varinder Goyal red-handed while accepting the first installment of ₹50,000, in the presence of two official witnesses.
A case has been registered against the accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act at the VB Police Station, Amritsar Range. He will be presented before the competent court tomorrow, and further investigation is underway.