IEP Chandigarh January 24
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested accused Balvir Singh, a resident of village Alampur, District Patiala, who was an accomplice of accused Malwinder Singh Sidhu, AIG, Human Rights, Punjab. He was wanted in a corruption-cum-criminal case registered by the VB as he used to submit complaints against employees in their departments and exhorted money by blackmailing at the behest of above said police officer.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the Bureau has secured a 5-day police remand of accused Balvir Singh in order to recover the weapon always kept by him on his person as well as to identify and ascertain the involvement of more persons.
Giving more details the spokesperson informed that in this regard the Bureau, on the basis of a Vigilance Enquiry, has registered a case FIR No. 28, dated 30. 10. 2023 under sections 7, 7-A of Prevention of Corruption Act and 384, 419, 420, 120B, 201 of IPC at police station, Vigilance Bureau, flying squad-1, Punjab at SAS Nagar. The said AIG Sidhu, his accomplice Balvir Singh and other accused were involved in this case. AIG Sidhu was already in judicial custody in the above said case.
He further added that during the probe it was found that AIG Sidhu misrepresented himself as IGP, Vigilance Bureau, Punjab, along with above said Balvir Singh and other accused, thereby used to initiate complaints against government employees, only to subsequently withdraw these in order to blackmail them and get illicit gains. Mentionably, this police officer had never held positions of AIG or IG within the Vigilance Bureau, Punjab since 2017.
He informed that it has came to light that AIG Sidhu had misused the government vehicle, Ertiga (PB-65-AD-1905) as fuel and other expenses were being drawn from the government account. However, he never maintained records of vehicle usage (log-book) which amounted to misuse of government property.
The spokesperson further added that afore mentioned Balvir Singh, at the behest of AIG Sidhu used to submit complaints against employees in different departments who had presumably been recruited under the Scheduled Castes and Freedom Fighters quota in order to pressurize and blackmail them in lieu of bribes, which were shared by him, Malwinder Singh and the other accused.
Further investigation into this case was under progress and remaining accused would be arrested soon, he added.
