Chandigarh 12 August 2025:
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state today arrested Fire Officer Varinder Kathuria posted at Abohar for receiving a bribe of Rs 20,000/.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the accused demanded a bribe from the complainant Rishav Kalia resident of tehsil Abohar district Fazilka. The complainant Rishav Kalia sells new fire extinguishers and refills old fire extenguishers.
He said accused Varinder Kathuria, fire officer, demanded a bribe of Rs 25,000/- to 30,000/- in the form of commission for the bills to be cleared by him. Besides this, the complainant met the accused at his house regarding clearance of his other bills also.
The complainant did not want to pay a bribe to him for his rightful work. Hence, to get such a corrupt official nabbed by the Vigilance Bureau, the complainant recorded his conversation and reported the matter to VB Unit Fazilka, he added.
The statement of the complainant was recorded at the Vigilance Bureau, Unit Fazilka. Subsequently the accused was caught red handed while accepting the bribe of Rs 20,000/- in presence of Govt. witness and the said case was registered against the aforesaid accused u/s 7 P.C Act 1988, as Amended by PC (Amendment) Act, 2018 Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Range Ferozpur. The instant case is under investigation. The accused Fire officer will be produced before the competent court tomorrow.
