Shimla, Himachal: In a fresh corruption crackdown in Himachal Pradesh’s Baddi industrial belt, the Vigilance Department arrested a forest guard while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹5,000. The operation was carried out by a team from the Baddi Vigilance Police Station under the supervision of DSP Vigilance Dr. Pratibha Chauhan.

The action followed a complaint from a local resident who accused the official of seeking illegal gratification to “settle” a case related to the cutting of trees. After verifying the complaint, vigilance officials planned a trap to catch the accused in the act.

Arrest During Bribe Transaction
The forest guard, identified as Sameer, is posted in the Dabhota beat of the Nalagarh Forest Division. Vigilance officers laid a trap and apprehended him red-handed while he was allegedly receiving the bribe amount. The tainted money was recovered on the spot, confirming the transaction.

Following the arrest, a case has been registered against him under the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Vigilance Department has initiated further investigation to probe whether others were involved or if similar incidents took place earlier.

To Be Produced in Court, Remand Sought
Officials said the accused will be produced before the court on Wednesday. The Vigilance Department will seek his remand to carry out a deeper investigation into the case and examine any wider links or past complaints related to the officer’s conduct.

Second Bribery Case in Forest Department Raises Concerns
This incident has once again put the spotlight on alleged corruption within the Forest Department in the Baddi region. In December 2025, Vigilance had arrested another forest guard from the same area for allegedly taking a bribe of ₹50,000. The back-to-back cases have triggered questions over internal monitoring and accountability within the department.