Indian Express: Chandigarh: Friday, 16 August 2024.
State Vigilance &
Anti-Corruption Bureau, Dharamshala, has arrested an ‘RTI activist’, Raj
Sharma, of Una district for alleged extortion of Rs 25 lakh.
He was arrested on Tuesday. Raj Sharma is accused of extorting the money from the owners of two stone crushers for not lodging complaints against them.
The Vigilance Bureau officials maintained that Raj Sharma had demanded Rs 75 lakh, and Rs 25 lakh was the first installment of the total extortion money. The stone crusher owners Rohan Vij and Gursajjan Bedi lodged a complaint against Raj Sharma.
SP (Vigilance) Balbir Singh said, “Raj Sharma is a so-called RTI activist. He collected many documents related to the stone crushers working in Una district through Right to Information (RTI) Act. Subsequently, he started demanding extortion money from at least two stone crusher owners claiming that he had collected incriminating documents against them. He demanded Rs 75 lakh from them. The owners approached the vigilance and lodged a complaint. We verified the allegations and found them to be genuine. A trap was laid. The suspect, Raj Sharma, was apprehended with the extortion money.”
Sources said that Raj Sharma threatened the complainants that he would file complaints against them in the court.
Punjab profs accused of bribery remanded in judicial custody
Two professors of private institutes in Punjab accused of bribery were remanded in judicial custody for 14 days on Wednesday.
The two Rakesh Chawla of Faridkot and Puneet Kumar of Barnala were arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 3.50 lakh on the pretext of giving extension of operation to Sai Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Sai University, Palampur (Kangra district), on August 12.
A vigilance officer said, “The two suspects professors Rakesh Chawla and Punnet Kumar were deputed by Pharmacy Council of India for inspection. The two were arrested on secret information. They were in two-day police custody which ended today.”
A case was registered at police station, State Vigilance Bureau, Dharamshala.
Forest guard held for taking Rs 12k bribe
State Vigilance team from Chamba arrested a forest guard, Jagad Singh, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 12,000 for issuing a grazing permit to a shepherd, Moju Deen, in Chamba. Jagad Singh is deputed at forest range, Tissa. A vigilance officer said, “Jagad Singh accepted the money on behalf of other forest officials. Moju Deen is a resident of Pathankot. Jagad Singh promised to get a grazing permit for him if he paid the bribe.” A case was registered.
Minister pays tribute to 20 departed souls at memorial
The Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Social Justice and Empowerment, and Sainik Welfare, Colonel (Dr.) Dhaniram Shandil, today paid tribute at the memorial for the 20 departed souls who lost their lives in the natural disaster at Shiv Bawdi, Summerhill, on August 14 last year.
He was arrested on Tuesday. Raj Sharma is accused of extorting the money from the owners of two stone crushers for not lodging complaints against them.
The Vigilance Bureau officials maintained that Raj Sharma had demanded Rs 75 lakh, and Rs 25 lakh was the first installment of the total extortion money. The stone crusher owners Rohan Vij and Gursajjan Bedi lodged a complaint against Raj Sharma.
SP (Vigilance) Balbir Singh said, “Raj Sharma is a so-called RTI activist. He collected many documents related to the stone crushers working in Una district through Right to Information (RTI) Act. Subsequently, he started demanding extortion money from at least two stone crusher owners claiming that he had collected incriminating documents against them. He demanded Rs 75 lakh from them. The owners approached the vigilance and lodged a complaint. We verified the allegations and found them to be genuine. A trap was laid. The suspect, Raj Sharma, was apprehended with the extortion money.”
Sources said that Raj Sharma threatened the complainants that he would file complaints against them in the court.
Punjab profs accused of bribery remanded in judicial custody
Two professors of private institutes in Punjab accused of bribery were remanded in judicial custody for 14 days on Wednesday.
The two Rakesh Chawla of Faridkot and Puneet Kumar of Barnala were arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 3.50 lakh on the pretext of giving extension of operation to Sai Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Sai University, Palampur (Kangra district), on August 12.
A vigilance officer said, “The two suspects professors Rakesh Chawla and Punnet Kumar were deputed by Pharmacy Council of India for inspection. The two were arrested on secret information. They were in two-day police custody which ended today.”
A case was registered at police station, State Vigilance Bureau, Dharamshala.
Forest guard held for taking Rs 12k bribe
State Vigilance team from Chamba arrested a forest guard, Jagad Singh, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 12,000 for issuing a grazing permit to a shepherd, Moju Deen, in Chamba. Jagad Singh is deputed at forest range, Tissa. A vigilance officer said, “Jagad Singh accepted the money on behalf of other forest officials. Moju Deen is a resident of Pathankot. Jagad Singh promised to get a grazing permit for him if he paid the bribe.” A case was registered.
Minister pays tribute to 20 departed souls at memorial
The Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Social Justice and Empowerment, and Sainik Welfare, Colonel (Dr.) Dhaniram Shandil, today paid tribute at the memorial for the 20 departed souls who lost their lives in the natural disaster at Shiv Bawdi, Summerhill, on August 14 last year.
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