Punjab sees growing trend of digital bribes

Vigilance officials say that while at times the bribe seekers end up incriminating themselves, at others, it proves to be a dead-end.

As the world adapts to digital payments, it seems the corrupt too don’t want to be left behind. The Punjab vigilance bureau is seeing a growing trend of government officials taking bribes through digital payment apps, including Google Pay, Phone Pe, and Paytm etc, something that ends up being a self-incriminating move.

Punjab Vigilance Bureau’s chief director Varinder Kumar said that at least a dozen such cases have come to the fore off late (Shutterstock)

Vigilance sleuths had recently caught a power corporation sub-divisional officer, identified as Mohan Lal, and a lineman for taking bribe of ₹34,000 through Google-Pay in lieu of not disconnecting the electricity connection of a Ludhiana resident. While they were caught red-handed with ₹5,000 bribe money, investigations revealed that the duo had taken ₹34,000 via the digital mode.

Punjab Vigilance Bureau’s chief director Varinder Kumar said that at least a dozen such cases have come to the fore off late. “But this only makes our job easier. It is easier to prove their guilt in a court of law when there is a clear digital trail of the money exchange,” said Kumar.

In a similar case, the vigilance, on May 23, had nabbed head constable Raghunath Singh, posted at Bhargo camp in Jalandhar city, for taking a bribe of ₹2,100 in two instalments through digital payment app, PhonePay. He was demanding bribe from an Uttarakhand resident for sending viscera of a deceased for chemical examination. The bribery complaint was posted on the CM’s anti-corruption helpline following which the sleuths got into action.

Patwari Ranjodh Singh of Pahuwind Circle of Amritsar had also landed in the vigilance net for taking ₹4,000 bribe through Google Pay. Abhay Kumar Patwari of Tibbi Khurd, Ferozepur, was caught accepting ₹5,000 while another patwari, Amritpal, of Barnala was caught taking ₹5,000 through Google Pay.

Sukhwinder Singh, a clerk of Fazilka education officer, was also one such offender.

While some government officials walk themselves into trouble by leaving a clear digital trail, others are smarter.

An official, requesting anonymity, said, “We recently came across a case where an official was carrying a Digital QR code scanner, linked to a shop in his area, for payments. He got away scot-free as the bribe money went to the shopkeeper, who showed it as a payment for some goods he sold. Our trap fell flat.”

A vigilance spokesperson said many such complaints have come in on the CM’s anti-corruption helpline and each case is being looked into one by one.