CBI Cracks Rs 20 Lakh Punjab Vigilance Bribery Case
Two middlemen arrested after late-night raid and chase in Mohali, senior vigilance officer under scanner
- CBI arrests two middlemen in bribery case
- Rs 13 lakh cash and mobile phone seized during trap
- Reader to Punjab Vigilance chief absconding
- BJP and SAD target AAP government over corruption allegations
GG News Bureau
Chandigarh, 13th May: The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested two middlemen and another associate in a Rs 20 lakh bribery case linked to senior officers of the Punjab Vigilance Department following a late-night raid in Mohali.
Officials said the action was taken after a Punjab State Tax Officer accused Vikas Goyal and his son Raghav Goyal of demanding illegal gratification to secure closure of a vigilance complaint against him.
According to the CBI, the accused allegedly acted as intermediaries for senior vigilance officials, including OP Rana.
CBI Trap Leads to Arrests
The agency said the initial bribe demand of Rs 20 lakh was later reduced to Rs 13 lakh along with a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 mobile phone allegedly meant for Rana.
After confirming the exchange, the CBI conducted a trap operation in Chandigarh and arrested Ankit Wadhwa while allegedly accepting Rs 13 lakh and the mobile phone on behalf of the accused.
“The bribe amount and mobile phone were recovered during the trap proceedings,” the CBI said.
Officials said Raghav Goyal, Vikas Goyal and Rana fled after being alerted by gunmen posted nearby.
Rana remains absconding and search operations are underway to trace him.
Cash, Documents Recovered During Searches
The CBI conducted searches at the residences of the accused in Malout and Chandigarh, recovering Rs 9 lakh cash and several incriminating documents.
Investigators said the probe had revealed exchange of sensitive information related to pending vigilance matters between Rana and the Goyals.
The agency is also examining the role of Punjab Police gunmen who were allegedly attached to the private accused and carried AK-47 rifles.
Officials said the wider conspiracy and possible illegal gratification network were under investigation.
BJP, SAD Attack Punjab Government
Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar alleged that the Vigilance Department had become a “cancer” for common people and demanded strict action by central agencies, including the CBI and Enforcement Directorate.
Sukhbir Singh Badal also attacked the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government over the allegations.
“The very office established to combat corruption has itself become corrupt,” Badal said in a post on X.
He demanded an intensive investigation and strict action against all those involved in the case.
