Punjab Vigilance Bureau corruption: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three individuals in connection with a Rs 20-lakh bribery case that directly implicates officials posted in the Punjab Vigilance Bureau. The arrests, which involved a tense trap operation and a cross-border chase, were officially confirmed by the agency on Monday.
A CBI spokesperson stated that the case was registered following a formal complaint filed by a Punjab State Tax Officer. The complainant alleged that two private individuals, identified as Vikas alias Vicky Goyal and his son Raghav Goyal, had demanded a sum of Rs 20 lakh. The bribe was allegedly sought to secure the closure of a pending complaint against the tax officer in the office of the Director General, Vigilance, Punjab.
The investigation revealed that the father-son duo was not acting independently. They were allegedly functioning as intermediaries for senior officials within the Vigilance Bureau. The complaint specifically named O P Rana, who serves as the reader to the DG Vigilance. According to the allegations, Rana personally assured the complainant that his pending matter would be permanently settled once the illegal payment was successfully handed over.
During the initial verification phase, the CBI prima facie substantiated the allegations regarding the bribe demand. Following negotiations between the complainant and the accused parties, the initial demand was eventually brought down. The bribe amount was reduced from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 13 lakh. In addition to the cash, the accused also demanded a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 mobile phone, which was designated to be given to O P Rana.
Based on these verified inputs, the CBI laid a meticulous trap on May 11 in Chandigarh. During the operation, an individual named Ankit Wadhwa, described as an associate of the Goyals, arrived to collect the illicit payment. Wadhwa was apprehended on the spot while allegedly accepting Rs 13 lakh in cash and the specified high-end mobile phone from the complainant. The CBI team successfully recovered both the complete bribe money and the device.
However, the operation faced resistance as the primary accused attempted to flee. Raghav Goyal, Vikas alias Vicky Goyal, and O P Rana were alerted by gunmen who were stationed near the trap location to provide surveillance and protection. Sensing the law enforcement presence, the accused immediately fled the spot in an attempt to evade arrest.
A swift pursuit ensued, leading the CBI team to chase the fleeing accused towards the Punjab-Haryana border. The chase culminated near Ambala, where the CBI team managed to intercept the suspects. Raghav Goyal and Vikas alias Vicky Goyal were successfully apprehended. The agency also took two armed gunmen, who were facilitating the escape, into custody.
While three main associates and the armed protection detail were secured, the senior official allegedly at the heart of the corruption network remains out of reach. O P Rana, the reader to the DG Vigilance, successfully absconded during the chaos of the chase and is currently a fugitive. The CBI has confirmed that intensive efforts are ongoing to locate and arrest him. The agency is continuing its investigation to uncover the broader nexus involving the arrested middlemen and the absconding public servant.
