Batala: The Vigilance Bureau on Friday arrested Batala’s SDM-cum-Municipal Commissioner Vikramjit Singh Panthe while accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a local contractor.
Officials said the raid was conducted on the basis of a complaint filed by Amarpal Singh, a resident of Beeco Complex. The vigilance team later searched the SDM’s residence and recovered over Rs 13 lakh along with several documents.
According to the complainant, his firm had repaired roads under the municipal corporation and installed cameras for a light and sound programme organised by the Punjab government to mark the 350th martyrdom day of the ninth Sikh Guru. The pending payment for the work was Rs 5,54,395.
He said that when he approached Commissioner Panthe for clearance of his bills, he was told to meet SDO Rohit Uppal who allegedly demanded 10 per cent commission.
It is being alleged that the commissioner had himself assigned SDO status to Uppal.
The complainant added that Uppal later agreed on 9 to 10 per cent commission and directed him to pay the bribe on the instructions of the commissioner.
Meanwhile, the vigilance team caught Panthe red handed and took him into custody. Sources said a fair probe could expose more officials involved in the case.
