20 lakh bribe case: Vigilance DGP’s absconding reader OP Rana suffers big setback from High Court

May 29, 2026

Punjab Vigilance Department DGP Reader OP Rana has received a big setback from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail application of accused OP Rana, named in the Rs 20 lakh bribery case. Earlier, the special CBI court in Chandigarh had also rejected Rana’s bail plea, after which he had approached the High Court.

This entire action has been taken on the complaint of a state tax officer of Punjab. According to the complainant, the accused had demanded a bribe of Rs 20 lakh to scuttle an investigation being conducted against him by the Vigilance Department and to close the case. Later, the deal was settled in the form of Rs 13 lakh in cash and an expensive ‘Samsung Galaxy Z Fold-7’ mobile phone.

The CBI laid a trap in Chandigarh and arrested the accused, Ankit Wadhwa, red-handed while taking Rs 13 lakh in cash and a mobile phone. During the investigation and raids that followed, another Rs 9 lakh in cash and many important and objectionable documents were also seized from the premises of the accused.

Main role of OP Rana 

The CBI investigation has revealed that in this entire network of bribery, DGP Vigilance Reader OP Rana had a main and active role. According to the CBI, on the day of the raid, OP Rana managed to escape by dodging the team. After the High Court also rejected the anticipatory bail application, the sword of arrest is now hanging over the absconding OP Rana, and the CBI is continuously conducting raids in search of him.