Vigilance Bureau catches inspector red-handed while taking bribe of Rs. 50,000

July 16, 2026

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has caught Harsh Bansal, an inspector posted at the Cooperative Society Tapa, district Barnala, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 during the campaign against corruption in the state.

Disclosing this in this regard, a spokesperson of the State Vigilance Bureau said that the accused has been arrested on the basis of a complaint filed by the retired Secretary of the Cooperative Society Tapa, Jang Singh.

He said that a departmental investigation is currently underway against the complainant. The accused inspector had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 1,00,000 in exchange for clearing the arrears of retirement and deciding the investigation in favor of the complainant and later this deal was settled for Rs 50,000.

After agreeing not to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the Vigilance Bureau Range Patiala. Acting on his complaint, the Vigilance Bureau team laid a trap, during which the accused inspector was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs. 50,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. The currency notes containing the bribe were also recovered from his possession.

In this regard, a case has been registered against the accused at the Vigilance Bureau police station Patiala under the Prevention of Corruption Act and further investigation into the matter is underway.