The Ludhiana Vigilance Bureau has opened its new year on a strong note. In the very first week of the year 2009, the VB has nabbed four corrupt officials and going by the word of SSP Vigilance, Kanwarjit Singh Sandhu, “the year has just begun.”

The VB during the last week nabbed five people including four government officials.

Paramjit Singh Sipla, reader of Senior Divisional Magistrate (East) Ludhiana was caught last Wednesday evening for accepting bribe worth Rs 1,000 for issuing a discharge certificate to a married couple. The arrest was made on the basis of a complaint lodged by Yashpal Singh, a resident of Indra colony.

The year kicked off with the arrest Salinder Singh, posted at Mullanpur, and deed writer Malh Singh on January 2. Salinder Singh was arrested for accepting Rs 5,000 as graft money for issuing a power attorney to one Davinder Singh. Two days later, VB arrested Joginder Kapoor, a house tax inspector with MC, for accepting Rs 21,000 as bribe from Heera Lal Dhir, a dhaba owner for sparing his dhaba during demolition drive. DSP Gurcharan Singh dealing with the case informed that another culprit Ramesh Chabra, Assistant Town Planner, is still absconding.

Going by the data, it is the officials directly dealing with the general public who are under the VB scanner. Kanwarjit Singh SSP, put this as, “We act when some complaint is made to us. At first we were getting complaints from revenue offices and then some complaints against MC officials too started trickling in. It all depends on the general public. They can help us nab the corrupt officials.” The SSP also added, “We are keeping an eye on the offices where rampant corruption is taking place.”