ABOHAR, Aug 13 — The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Tuesday arrested Fire Officer Varinder Kathuria for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹20,000 to clear bills, officials said. Kathuria, in charge of the fire station opposite the Abohar bus stand, was caught in a trap laid by VB’s Fazilka unit.
VB spokesman said complainant Rishabh Kalia, who supplies and refills fire extinguishers, approached the bureau after Kathuria allegedly demanded ₹25,000 to ₹30,000 as commission for clearing his bills. “The complainant had also visited the officer’s home regarding other pending payments,” the spokesman said.
Kalia, unwilling to pay for what he described as “rightful work,” recorded his conversations with the officer and submitted them to the VB. Officials set up a sting operation, catching Kathuria red-handed while accepting the cash in the presence of a government witness.
A case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, has been registered at the VB Police Station in Ferozepur. The accused will be produced before court today.
“The Vigilance Bureau will continue to act firmly against corruption to ensure transparent governance,” the spokesman added.
