CBI arrests advocate, aide for seeking Rs 30-lakh bribe to secure favourable verdict in divorce case
In a recorded conversation, Salwan allegedly demanded Rs 30 lakh for securing the court’s order in favour of the complainant's cousin. He reportedly insisted that the complainant pay the bribe in full but later agreed to accept Rs 5 lakh as the first instalment.
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According to the FIR, the case was registered under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and Section 7-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018). The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Anti-Corruption Branch, Chandigarh, has arrested advocate Jatin Salwan and his aide on allegations of demanding Rs 30-lakh bribe to secure favourable judicial orders in a divorce case pending before a Bathinda court.
As per a CBI official, Salwan was arrested and produced before the CBI court which sent him to judicial custody.
Salwan’s counsel refused to comment anything as of now.
Salwan’s aide Satnam Singh was caught by the CBI, following the complaint from Sector 9, Chandigarh, while he was allegedly accepting amount of Rs 4 lakh. He was also produced in the court with Salwan, and sent to judicial custody by the Chandigarh CBI court.
According to the FIR, the case was registered under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and Section 7-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018).
The FIR has been registered on a written complaint filed by Harsimranjit Singh, a resident of Firozepur. He alleged that Salwan demanded a bribe of Rs 30 lakh in exchange for ensuring a favourable order in the divorce case of his cousin, by misusing his personal influence on the judicial officer posted at Bathinda.
The complaint was marked to Inspector Sonal Mishra, CBI, ACB Chandigarh, for verification. During verification, the allegations were substantiated.
In a recorded conversation, Salwan allegedly demanded Rs 30 lakh for securing the court’s order in favour of the complainant’s cousin. He reportedly insisted that the complainant pay the bribe in full but later agreed to accept Rs 5 lakh as the first instalment.
Salwan informed the complainant that someone on behalf of the judicial officer would collect the token money.
During the conversation, he is specifically quoted as saying: “rishwat de paise kade ghat nahi honde (bribe amounts are never negotiated or reduced)”.
The CBI noted that the complaint and its verification prima facie disclosed the commission of offences under the BNS and Prevention of Corruption Act.
Arrested in 2016 as well in NDPS Act case
In 2016, advocate Salwan was also arrested by the Chandigarh Police. At that time, the police had caught a businessman, Sukhbir Singh Shergill’s driver, with 2.6 kg opium and Rs 15 lakh in counterfeit currency. During investigation, it was revealed that this was part of a conspiracy to falsely implicate Shergill, in which Salwan’s name also surfaced.
In this case, Salwan and others were booked under the NDPS Act, though he was later granted bail. The case against Salwan and the other accused is still pending before the High Court.
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