Himachal Pradesh vigilance authorities stepped up action against administrative graft by pursuing two distinct bribery cases across different districts. In Sirmaur, an enforcement team caught a forest department official in the act of accepting cash, while in Solan, a revenue clerk faced a formal criminal case after allegedly demanding a digital payoff to clear official land partition paperwork. In both instances, aggrieved citizens documented the illicit demands through audio recordings before turning to enforcement agencies.
Forest Official Caught in Paonta Sahib Trap
In Sirmaur district, vigilance officials apprehended Sumant, a range officer posted in the Bhangani range, while he was taking a ten thousand rupee illegal payment. The complainant, Ikram, had faced persistent harassment over his tractor used in mining operations, with the officer demanding money under the threat of seizing the vehicle and issuing a penalty notice. Exhausted by the ongoing pressure, Ikram approached anti-corruption officers and handed over recordings of their telephone discussions.
Acting on the formal complaint, vigilance officers arranged a surveillance trap at octroi post number 6 in Paonta Sahib, where the official had directed the complainant to deliver the currency. The moment the payoff changed hands, officers stationed nearby stepped in and took him into custody. The sudden arrest caused widespread anxiety across the local forest establishment. Vigilance Deputy Superintendent of Police Ramakant Thakur confirmed the development, noting that a case had been registered and investigative steps were underway.
Solan Revenue Patwari Booked for Demanding Digital Bribe
In a parallel development in Solan, anti-corruption officials booked Ankur, a patwari serving in the settlement department, on charges of soliciting illegal gratification. The complainant, Vikas Kanwar, alleged that the official sought ₹1,500 to finalize formal paperwork for the legal partition of his landholding. Rather than complying with the demand, the citizen approached vigilance officials with corroborating audio material.
According to the complaint, the patwari instructed the applicant to remit the illicit sum via Google Pay and supplied his personal mobile number for the transaction. The Solan unit of the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau registered an FIR on November 3 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, initiating formal proceedings. Addressing the actions, Director General of Police Ashok Tiwari affirmed that any instance of administrative bribery, regardless of the amount or the official rank involved, would meet uncompromising legal action.
