Ludhiana: A local court has sentenced an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) to four years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for accepting a bribe of Rs 8,000. Also, a fine of Rs 25,000 was imposed.
The case dates to Nov 22, 2019, when the vigilance bureau (VB) booked ASI Balwinder Ram (54) from Nagar village, Jalandhar, under the Prevention of Corruption Act.Sarabjit Singh, the complainant, is a property dealer who owns a property in Kalsi Market, Doraha. Behind his property is the property of Arun Rattan, with whom he had a dispute over water drainage. Arun Rattan abused and threatened Singh, following which Singh’s wife filed a complaint. ASI Balwinder Ram was assigned the case.
Despite multiple meetings, the ASI did not summon the other party and continued to delay. Singh then met the ASI, who demanded Rs 10,000. Despite requests to reduce the amount, the ASI refused. Singh paid Rs 2,000 at that time and was instructed to bring the remaining Rs 8,000, promising immediate action.
Unwilling to pay the bribe, Singh arranged Rs 8,000 and approached the VB. Later, the VB recovered Rs 8,000 from the front pocket of the ASI at Sherpur Chowk, in front of the police station. The police then arrested the accused and, after completing the investigation, presented the chargesheet in court, following which he was sentenced to four years of RI.