Chandigarh, May 13: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three persons, including two private middlemen and one associate, in connection with a Rs 20 lakh bribery case allegedly involving officials of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau.
According to a CBI press release, the case was registered following a complaint filed by a Punjab State Tax officer, who alleged that accused Vikas alias Vicky Goyal and his son Raghav Goyal demanded illegal gratification of Rs 20 lakh for securing closure of a complaint pending against him in the office of DG Vigilance, Punjab.
The agency said the accused were allegedly acting as intermediaries for senior vigilance officials, including O.P. Rana, Reader to DGP Vigilance, Punjab, and assured the complainant that the matter could be settled after payment of the bribe amount.
During verification, the allegations regarding the demand of bribe were prima facie substantiated. The accused later allegedly reduced the demand from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 13 lakh along with a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 mobile phone for O.P. Rana.
CBI officials said that during a trap operation conducted on May 11 in Chandigarh, accused Ankit Wadhwa was apprehended while allegedly accepting Rs 13 lakh and the mobile phone from the complainant on behalf of the accused persons. The bribe money and phone were recovered during the operation.
The agency further stated that accused Raghav Goyal, Vikas alias Vicky Goyal, and O.P. Rana allegedly attempted to flee after being alerted by gunmen present near the surveillance spot. After a chase, Raghav Goyal, Vikas Goyal, and two gunmen were apprehended near Ambala at the Punjab-Haryana border. However, O.P. Rana is reportedly absconding, and efforts are underway to arrest him.
CBI said searches conducted at the residences of the accused in Malout and Chandigarh led to the recovery of Rs 9 lakh cash and incriminating documents.
The investigation has also revealed alleged exchange of sensitive information related to pending vigilance matters between O.P. Rana and the private accused persons. The agency said the wider conspiracy and the role of other individuals are under investigation.
The accused are expected to be produced before the designated court in Chandigarh, while further investigation in the case is continuing.(KNC)
