Accused previously received Rs 12000 in instalments
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh –
In its ongoing crackdown on corruption, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) today arrested a Forestor, Surinderjit Pal, posted at Forest Department Mahilpur in district Hoshiarpur. He was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 15000 from a complainant resident of village Thidan, in tehsil Garshankar.
Disclosing this a spokesperson of VB said the complainant has been engaged in the wood cutting business for the past 10-12 years. On 11.10.2025, the complainant and his associate Gurvinder Singh alias Goni, returned to village Thidan in their car after completing their day's work. The complainant parked the vehicle in his uncle's plot. While Gurvinder Singh alias Goni remained seated in the car, and the complainant went home to get his dinner. After about an hour, when he returned, Gurvinder Singh was not near the car, and several tree-cutting tools were missing from his vehicle.
He further added that the village Sarpanch Harpreet Singh informed the complaintant that Amarjit Singh, Range Officer, Forest Department Mahilpur, along with 3-4 other employees, had arrived in a government vehicle, taken away the tree-cutting equipment and asked the complainant to report to the Forest Department Office, Mahilpur.
In this regard, the complainant along with the Sarpanch, visited the Forest Department Office Mahilpur, and met Amarjit Singh Range Officer who told him that tree-cutting tools were found in his vehicle and alleged that government trees had been stolen from the canal area. He further told the complainant that a fine of Rs.1,23,000 would be imposed on him for the alleged theft of government trees.
He revealed that the complainant denied the allegations, explaining that he only cut the trees after purchasing them lawfully. Amarjit Singh demanded an illegal gratification of Rs. 31,000 for returning the seized tree-cutting tools. The complainant expressed his inability to pay the full amount and offered Rs. 2,000 which Amarjit Singh directed him to hand over to Forester Surinderjit Pal. The complainant accordingly paid Rs. 2000 to Forester Surinderjit Pal in the presence of the village Sarpanch, and the remaining payment was fixed for 17.10.2025.
Afterwards, the complainant again visited the Forest Department Office, Mahilpur, where Amarjit Singh and Surinderjit Pal demanded another installment of Rs. 10,000 which the complainant paid to Forester Surinderjit Pal. The remaining balance was agreed to be paid on 29.10.2025, he added.
Vigilance Bureau spokesperson stated that the complainant could not arrange the money and failed to visit the office on that date. Later, he received a call from Forester Surinderjit Pal, who again demanded the remaining bribe amount. The complainant stated he could arrange only 15,000 to which Surinderjit Pal agreed and asked him to come over. The complainant recorded this conversation as evidence.
Acting on complainant information, the Vigilance Bureau laid a trap and registered a case against Amarjit Singh, Range. Officer, and Surinderjit Pal, Forester, Forest Department, Mahilpur.
After verifying the allegations, a VB team from the Jalandhar Range laid a trap and apprehended Surinderjit Pal red-handed while accepting the Rs 15000 bribe from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.
A case under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused at the VB Police Station, Jalandhar Range. The accused will be produced in court tommorow, and further investigation is underway, the spokesperson added.