Vigilance Bureau nabs National Urban Livelihood Mission official for taking bribe in Punjab's Bhatinda
Sep 29, 2023
Bathinda (Punjab) [India], September 30 : One official of the National Urban Livelihood Mission was arrested for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 7,000 in Bhatinda, an official statement said on Friday.
The accused has been identified as Sonu Goyal.
Punjab Vigilance Bureau said that the accused was posted as District Manager (Technical Expert) at the City Mission Management (CMM) Unit of the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM).
According to the anti-corruption agency, the complainant Gurpreet Kaur had approached the CMM of NULM in Bathinda seeking employment after her husband's passing.
"Gurpreet Kaur, who had been seeking employment after her husband's passing, had initially approached Madam Gitanjali, the CMM of NULM in Bathinda who directed her to meet Sonu Goyal, the aforementioned District Manager. Subsequently, Sonu Goyal facilitated Gurpreet Kaur's placement on a contract basis at the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda under the Urban Learning Internship Program on a fixed monthly salary of Rs. 12,000," an official statement said.
The complainant alleged that on receiving her September salary, Madam Gitanjali demanded a monthly bribe of Rs. 10,000. She has taken an initial bribe of Rs 3,000 and instructed Gurpreet Kaur to pay the remaining amount to the above-mentioned Sonu Goyal. They later threatened to terminate her employment if she failed to pay the outstanding bribe," it added.
Vigilance Bureau further added that a preliminary investigation into the complaint confirmed that Madam Gitanjali had indeed accepted a bribe of Rs 3,000 from the complainant.
"Subsequently, the Vigilance Bureau Range in Bathinda laid a trap that resulted in the apprehension of Sonu Goyal, the District Manager of NULM in Municipal Corporation, Bathinda. He was caught red-handed while receiving the remaining Rs 7,000 bribe from the complainant," an official statement said.
Vigilance said that a case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act and efforts are ongoing to nab the remaining accused official.
Further investigation is underway.
