Spread the news
Patiala, July 3
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has arrested Sanjeev Sabharwal, reader to the Naib Tehsildar at Samana in Patiala district, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹6,000. The arrest was made during a trap operation conducted as part of the state’s ongoing anti-corruption drive, officials said on Wednesday.
According to a Vigilance Bureau spokesperson, the action followed a complaint filed by a resident of Dhainthal village in Samana tehsil. The complainant alleged that his brother had taken a ₹11 lakh loan from Jana Small Finance Bank, Patiala, by mortgaging his house to finance his son’s overseas education. As loan repayments had remained pending for the past two years, proceedings under Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act, 2002, were initiated, and the matter was pending before the office of the Naib Tehsildar cum Executive Magistrate at Samana. Orders had already been issued for taking possession of the mortgaged property.
The spokesperson said that when the complainant approached the Naib Tehsildar’s office, the accused reader allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹25,000 to delay further proceedings in the case. After negotiations, he agreed to accept ₹6,000 as the first installment and allegedly asked the complainant to pay the remaining amount after July 6, 2026.
Refusing to pay the illegal gratification, the complainant approached the Vigilance Bureau, Patiala Range. After verifying the complaint, the bureau laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed while allegedly accepting ₹6,000 in the presence of two government witnesses.
The Vigilance Bureau has registered a case against the accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act at the Patiala Vigilance Police Station. Further investigation into the matter is underway.
