CBI Arrests Three In Rs 20 Lakh Bribery Case Linked To Punjab Vigilance Bureau

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three individuals in a ₹20 lakh bribery case linked to alleged corruption involving officials of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, while one accused official remains absconding following a dramatic chase across the Punjab-Haryana border.

According to officials, the case was registered based on a complaint filed by a Punjab State Tax Officer, who alleged that two private middlemen, Vikas alias Vicky Goyal and his son Raghav Goyal, demanded ₹20 lakh to help secure closure of a pending vigilance complaint. The complaint was reportedly under review at the office of the Director General (Vigilance), Punjab.

Investigators said the accused were allegedly acting as intermediaries for senior officials within the vigilance setup, including OP Rana, who serves as Reader to the DGP (Vigilance), Punjab. Rana is accused of assuring the complainant that the case would be closed upon payment of the bribe. During negotiations, the demand was reportedly reduced to ₹13 lakh along with a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold device intended for Rana.

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The CBI laid a trap operation in Chandigarh on May 11, during which Ankit Wadhwa, an associate of the middlemen, was caught red-handed while allegedly accepting cash and the mobile phone. The operation escalated when other accused individuals, including Vikas Goyal, Raghav Goyal, and OP Rana, attempted to flee after being alerted. A chase ensued, leading to their interception near Ambala on the Punjab-Haryana border, although Rana managed to escape and remains at large.

Following the arrests, the agency conducted searches at premises in Malout and Chandigarh, recovering ₹9 lakh in cash along with documents suspected to be linked to the bribery network. Officials also said preliminary findings suggest possible exchange of sensitive information related to pending vigilance cases between the accused intermediaries and officials within the department.

The investigation has also raised questions over the alleged involvement of Punjab Police personnel, including gunmen reportedly equipped with AK-47 rifles who were attached to private individuals during the operation. Authorities are currently examining their role and authorization.

The arrested accused are expected to be produced before a designated court in Chandigarh, while the CBI continues its investigation into what it describes as a wider conspiracy involving multiple individuals within and outside the vigilance establishment.

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