Court peon absconds after being booked for bribery in Punjab

Chandigarh: Police in Ludhiana have registered an FIR against a court peon accused of taking bribes to expedite hearings and influence decisions in family court cases.

The accused, identified as Badal Singh, worked in the court of Additional Principal Judge Rajwinder Singh and is now absconding.

According to the FIR, Badal Singh allegedly demanded payments ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 from individuals involved in sensitive family disputes.

Screenshots of UPI and Google Pay transactions provided by complainants revealed his illegal activities.

The case came to light when Deepali, a reader in the court, reported that Badal Singh had promised early hearing dates, visitation rights, and favorable outcomes in exchange for money.

When the promises were not fulfilled, victims raised concerns in court, prompting an internal investigation.

During questioning by the presiding officer, Badal Singh resigned and disappeared. A police complaint was formally filed against him on October 10, 2024.

Investigating officer ASI Subhash Chand stated that the accused exploited the emotional vulnerability of those seeking justice. A manhunt is underway to locate and arrest the accused.