Patwari held for taking bribe

A Patwari of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation was arrested Wednesday by the Central Bureau of Investigation for allegedly demanding and accepting illegal gratification from a Manimajra resident. The CBI received a complaint on February 11.

CBI sleuths arrested the Patwari from the parking lot of the new court complex of the Chandigarh District Courts at 1 pm, on Wednesday. The accused was arrested taking Rs 50, 000 bribe.

The complainant, Ramandeep Singh — a resident of Manimajra — had alleged that the Manimajra Patwari, Balraj Singh, had demanded a bribe of Rs 2 lakh.

As per CBI officials, the Patwari visited Ramandeep's site and demanded the bribe for submitting site verification report in Ramandeep's favour and for getting the NOC.

After arresting the accused, he was taken to the CBI office while a parallel search of his residence in Panchkula Sector 6 was conducted.

CBI officials said no substantial cash was recovered from the residence of the accused but that property papers worth crores was recovered in Balraj's name and the name of his family members.

Balraj Singh had asked the complainant to give him Rs 2 lakh in two equal installments of Rs1 lakh each in two days and another installment of Rs 1 lakh later at the time of sale of Ramandeep's house.

On negotiation, Balraj Singh reduced the bribe to Rs 1 lakh and agreed to accept Rs 50,000 as first installment and balance before getting the NOC. The said bribe amount was to be paid on February 13.

A case was registered under Prevention of Corruption Act and a trap was laid at the Chandigarh District Court complex, Sector 43. "The accused official was caught red-handed and was arrested. Further investigation are on," said DIG Mahesh Aggarwal.

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