Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
A major twist has emerged in the ₹20 lakh bribery deal case. According to sources in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the vigilance complaint on the basis of which the bribe was allegedly demanded could itself be fake, as no such complaint or inquiry has been found in the official Vigilance records during the preliminary probe.
The case revolves around allegations that middlemen demanded money from a senior state tax officer in exchange for closing a pending vigilance complaint against him. However, investigators are now probing whether the complaint ever existed in the first place.
Meanwhile, the CBI has summoned police and Home Guard personnel who were allegedly providing security to accused father-son duo Vikas Goel and Raghav Goel. Notices have been issued directing them to appear before investigators on May 15. The accused are currently under CBI remand.
The case came to light after a late-night CBI raid at the Punjab Vigilance Headquarters in Mohali on Monday, leading to the arrest of three persons. Investigators also recovered ₹9 lakh in cash from the accused persons’ locations.
WhatsApp Chats Mention “Big Boss”
CBI investigators have reportedly recovered WhatsApp chats in which repeated references were made to a “big boss” on whose behalf the alleged deal was being negotiated. Authorities are still trying to determine whether the person referred to was a politician or a senior official.
According to CBI sources, the accused middlemen were highly manipulative and used fake influence to convince officials of their strong connections inside the Vigilance Department. The complainant, despite being a senior income tax official, allegedly failed to suspect the fraud.
Investigators have uncovered nearly eight fake complaints linked to the accused, with evidence reportedly supporting the findings.
Guest House Booking Under Scanner
The accused middlemen had allegedly stayed at a guest house in Mohali, and investigators suspect the booking was arranged through a politician. Vigilance officials have seized CCTV footage and related records from the premises.
CBI teams are still searching for OP Rana, reader to the Punjab Vigilance Chief, who remains absconding. Four separate teams have reportedly been deployed to trace him.
Religious Cover Used to Build Contacts
Investigators revealed that accused Raghav Goel and Vikas Goel were contractors associated with the irrigation department and often used religious gestures to build close contacts with government officers.
They allegedly introduced themselves as devotees of Balaji Salasar and would present officers with prasad and religious flags to gain trust before using those connections for influence and work.
How the Alleged Bribery Deal Was Planned
The case was registered by the CBI on the complaint of a Punjab state tax officer, who alleged that Vikas alias Vicky Goel and his son Raghav Goel demanded ₹20 lakh to get a vigilance complaint against him closed through senior Vigilance officials.
The complainant alleged that the accused acted as middlemen for senior officers, including OP Rana, reader to the DG Vigilance Punjab. The deal was eventually negotiated down to ₹13 lakh, along with a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold mobile phone allegedly meant for OP Rana.
Dramatic Chase from Chandigarh to Ambala
On May 11, the CBI laid a trap in Chandigarh by booking a room in a hotel where the accused and complainant were scheduled to meet.
During the operation, accused Ankit Wadhwa was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting ₹13 lakh in cash and the mobile phone from the complainant.
As the raid began, Raghav Goel, Vikas Goel, and OP Rana allegedly received alerts from their gunmen and attempted to flee. The CBI launched a dramatic 35-kilometre chase from Chandigarh to Ambala before managing to arrest Raghav Goel, Vikas Goel, and their driver near the Haryana border.
However, OP Rana managed to escape and remains on the run.
