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Assistant town planner, architect held for accepting Rs 50,000 bribe in Phagwara

Vigilance Bureau says action part of AAP government’s zero tolerance towards corruption

Both accused were caught red-handed while accepting the bribe, in the presence of official witnesses. (File)

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Monday arrested an Assistant Town Planner (ATP) and a private architect in Phagwara for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000. The arrests, officials said, were made as part of the AAP-led state government’s zero tolerance policy against corruption.

A spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau identified the accused as Raj Kumar, ATP with the Municipal Corporation, Phagwara, and Rajesh Kumar, a private architect. The action was taken following a complaint from a resident of Phagwara in Kapurthala district.

According to the complainant, the architect had initially demanded a bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh to secure approval for a house map plan through the town planning office. After negotiations, the demand was reduced to Rs 50,000, said the spokesperson.

Acting on the complaint, the VB conducted a preliminary inquiry and then laid a trap with a team from its Jalandhar range. Both accused were caught red-handed while accepting the bribe, in the presence of official witnesses.

A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at the VB Police Station, Jalandhar Range. The accused will be produced before court on Tuesday, officials added.

The spokesperson further said that the action highlights Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in public administration across Punjab.

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