By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 26 May: The Vigilance Department has arrested Patwari Gulshan Haider, posted in the Kalsi Tehsil area, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 2,000. The Vigilance Dehradun team apprehended Haider in a trap operation today. Haider had allegedly demanded the bribe to process reports for the complainant’s domicile and caste certificates. Following the arrest, the Vigilance Establishment (Vigilance) Dehradun team is questioning the accused and initiating further proceedings in the case. A case is being registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act against the Patwari, and an investigation is also being launched.
According to Vigilance officials, a complainant had lodged a grievance on the Vigilance Establishment’s toll-free number 1064, stating that their cousins had applied online for domicile and caste certificates, which were found to be rejected upon online verification. When the complainant contacted Patwari Gulshan Haider of Kalsi Tehsil regarding this, the patwari asked them to come to the Tehsil office today, with a photo ID and Rs 2,000. The complainant, unwilling to pay the bribe, instead filed a complaint with the Vigilance Department.
Acting on this complaint, the Vigilance Establishment Sector Dehradun’s trap team proceeded as per regulations and arrested Patwari Gulshan Haider from a private room in the Kalsi Tehsil office today while he was accepting a bribe of amount Rs 2,000 bribe. It has also been claimed that after being caught red handed, Haider swallowed the money. After the arrest, the Vigilance Establishment Dehradun team is interrogating the accused and further action is underway. A case will be registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and an investigation will be conducted. The accused has also been taken to the hospital for an ultrasound test.
Vigilance officials have appealed that, if any officer or employee in government departments in the state demands a bribe by exerting pressure in the performance of their official duties, or if they have acquired illegal assets disproportionate to their known sources of income, citizens should fearlessly provide information in the campaign against corruption. They can do so by contacting the Vigilance Establishment’s toll-free helpline number 1064, WhatsApp helpline number 9456592300, or emailing vighq-uk@nic.in. The Vigilance Department emphasises maintaining the confidentiality of complainants and encourages them to come forward to help curb corruption.
